These groups have signed up to march in Staten Island’s first inclusive St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Originally published in
Staten Island Advance
on
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- From celebrities and politicians to public high school and college marching bands, many groups and individuals have signed up to be part of the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District’s (BID) first inclusive Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17.
Most of the groups that have signed up to march have, in recent years, boycotted the traditional St. Patrick’s Parade -- organized by the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Parade Committee -- because of its continued ban of LGBTQ+ groups. That parade was held on March 3.
POLITICIANS WELCOME INCLUSIVE PARADE
Mayor Eric Adams said he plans to take part in the parade. In addition, Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island), who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community; Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore/Brooklyn/Lower Manhattan); and State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), who joined members of the LGBTQ+ community in a protest last year against the traditional parade’s exclusionary practices, all have said they plan to march.
“I applaud the efforts of the West Brighton BID ensuring an inclusive St. Patrick’s Day parade on Staten Island,” said Scarcella-Spanton. “I look forward to marching with my friends and family on March 17th, a tradition we long missed taking part in.”
