Staten Island St. Patrick’s Parade Bans LGBTQs Again

The Staten Island Advance reports:

LGBTQ need not apply. That was the message Sunday from Larry Cummings, head of the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, when three community groups went to Willowbrook’s Holy Family Church to submit their applications.

Carol Bullock — executive director of the Pride Center of Staten Island, one of the LGBTQ groups that tried to apply — said she wasn’t expecting much more than that after having her application denied in recent years.

Cummings’ position — and seemingly the position of the rest of the committee — has long been that the Staten Island St. Patrick Parade, set to take place on March 6 this year, is an event meant to respect and honor Irish heritage and the Roman Catholic faith.

Read the full article.

Other groups again banned this year include GOAL (Gay Officers Action League) and FDNY FireFlag/EMS.

In 2020 a group of beauty queens was banned from the parade after Miss Staten Island came out as bisexual.

“Across the globe, it’s a challenge to find any other St. Patrick parade that doesn’t allow groups to openly march based on their sexuality.”

Words by @LiottaPaul for @siadvance. https://t.co/eaU0GIv2c1

— Joseph Ostapiuk (@OstapiukJ) February 20, 2022