Political breakfast canceled for second year due to LGBTQ+ exclusion in Staten Island St. Patrick’s Parade
Originally published in
Silive.com: Political breakfast canceled for second year due to LGBTQ+ exclusion in Staten Island St. Patrick’s Parade
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The traditional Staten Island St. Patrick’s Parade political breakfast, held at Jody’s Club Forest in West Brighton for decades, has once again been called off due to the exclusion of LGBTQ+ groups from the annual celebration of Irish heritage.
The move comes after an advocacy project launched last year by the Advance/SIlive.com highlighted the LGBTQ+ exclusion by parade organizers through a series of stories that explored the large amount of city resources used to support the event, as well as the overwhelming support from the community of the Pride Center of Staten Island.
At last year’s Staten Island Athletic Club’s Forest Avenue Mile — unofficially known as the “Rainbow Run,” which occurs yearly before the parade — the Pride Center of Staten Island stood with LGBTQ+ allies and community members, as well as Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) President Brian Downey, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams outside of Jody’s Club Forest calling for inclusion.
Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) was the only elected official who joined the protest.
“The St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island has been one of my favorite events since I was a little girl, but I haven’t marched in years because they continue to discriminate against the Pride Center, GOAL, Fire Flag, and any organizations representing our LGBTQ+ communities,” said Scarcella-Spanton. “I will do everything in my power to make this an inclusive parade in the future. I look forward to continuing to work together toward a parade that all can participate in.”
