BOSTON: Gay Veterans Group Banned From City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade After Two Years Of Participating

The gay veterans group that in 2015 was the first LGBT organization to be allowed to participate in Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been banned from this year’s event. The Boston Globe reports:

Ed Flynn, a South Boston resident and a member of the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council — the parade’s organizer — confirmed that the group did not receive approval to participate. The parade will be held March 19.

“I am saddened and outraged that the Allied War Veterans Council has voted to turn back the clock on equality,” said Flynn, also a City Council candidate, in a statement. The vote at Tuesday’s meeting was 9-4 against allowing OUTVETS to march, Flynn said.

OUTVETS founder and chief executive Bryan Bishop said he was “disgusted” by the move. He also called it “disheartening.” Bishop said Flynn informed him of the decision after the council’s meeting.  The Allied War Veterans Council previously fought attempts by openly gay groups to march, taking the case all the way to the US Supreme Court — and winning.

From the OUTVETS Facebook page:

OUTVETS has marched in the parade for the last two years without incident. We followed their rules to the letter and our presence helped to tear down the wall of discrimination that surrounded this event. In our first year, Congressman Seth Moulton and Secretary of Veterans Services, Francisco Urena marched with our organization in support of LGBTQ Veterans and our right to be respected as Veterans for our selfless service to our nation.

However, last year our organization was placed at the rear of the parade and no where near other Veterans organizations. While many wanted to quit and go home, we agreed that as an organization we were there to honor those who had served and are still serving our country.

OUTVETS complained to the organizers about this and thought we had a good working relationship with the council. We feel that with the death of former South Boston Allied War Veterans Council Commander, Brian Mahoney our strongest ally was gone and the old mindset of bigotry and discrimination crept back into the parade.

This is a sad day for the LGBTQ community but also a horrible day for Veterans. We served our country with honor and distinction. But even after successfully participating in this parade and bringing honor to those who have served, we are still fighting for the respect that comes with serving our country.

I believe Boston Pride has also participated since 2015. The above-linked report does not say if they too have been banned from this year’s event. (Tipped by JMG reader Patrick)

RELATED:  Read about the 1995 SCOTUS ruling here.