Image source: St. Pat’s For All Facebook page The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Manhattan, which draws millions of spectators and marchers annually, has never allowed LGBT groups to march, citing religious reasons. This outdated rule has been protested over the past 20 years by plenty of activists, Irish New Yorkers and political figures such as Christine Quinn, and even the former Irish president. One activist who advocated for LGBT inclusion in the parade, Brendan Fay, decided to start an alternative St. Patrick’s Day parade in 2000. The event is called St. Pat’s for All and takes place in Sunnyside and Woodside every year. The fun neighborhood parade attracts a smaller crowd, but more accurately reflects the diversity of Queens and all of NYC. It typically includes a range of cultural groups, from Irish to Tibetan to Mexican, and organizations such as The Keltic Dreams, a group of young Irish step dancers from… Read More
