Mar 17, 2015

Until now, gay rights groups have been barred by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council from marching in the parade, which draws as many as a million spectators each year.

In New York City, a group was protesting the exclusion of gay groups from the parade. Mayor Bill De Blasio decided not to march due to the parade organizer’s policy to ban participants that identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Heineken and Guinness announced earlier that they would drop their sponsorship of the parade for along the same reasons.

In Sunnyside Queens, an inclusive St. Pat’s For All parade embraces diversity and is considered and alternative to New York City’s official March 17, St. Patrick’s Day parade.– Wire reports

: Shenetta Inmon sports a gay pride flag alongside her shamrock headwear as she waits for marchers to pass during the all-inclusive St. Pat’s For All parade in the Sunnyside, Queens neighborhood of New York, Sunday, March 1, 2015. The parade, which embraces diversity, is considered an alternative to New York City’s official March 17, St. Patrick Day parade. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

: Members of the Gay Officers Action League march through a snowstorm during the all-inclusive St. Pat’s For All parade in Sunnyside Queens neighborhood of New York, Sunday, March 1, 2015. The parade, which embraces diversity, is considered and alternative to New York City’s official March 17, St. Patrick’s Day parade. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

: U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., left, poses for a photo with spectators while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. Until now, gay rights groups have been barred by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council from marching in the parade, which draws as many as a million spectators each year. Moulton marched with OutVets, a group of gay military veterans, in the parade Sunday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

: In this Nov. 11, 2014 file photo, retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Bullen, of Westborough, Mass., left, holds an American flag as U.S. Army veteran Ian Ryan, of Dennis, Mass., front right, rolls up an OutVets banner after marching with a group representing LGBT military veterans in a Veterans Day parade in Boston. The organizers of Boston’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade voted to allow the group of gay veterans along with a second gay group, Boston Pride, to march in the parade scheduled to step off at 1 p.m., on Sunday, March 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

: U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., center without hat, marches with members of OutVets, a group of gay military veterans, during the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. Until now, gay rights groups have been barred by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council from marching in the parade, which draws as many as a million spectators each year. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

: Members of OutVets, a group of gay military veterans, hold a banner and flags as they march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. Until now, gay rights groups have been barred by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council from marching in the parade, which draws as many as a million spectators each year. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

: Freddy Murphy, of Boston, front left, waves an Irish flag while marching with the LGBT community advocacy group Boston Pride during the St. Patrick’s Day parade, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood. Until now, gay rights groups have been barred by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council from marching in the parade, which draws as many as a million spectators each year. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

: Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, center right, greets spectators while marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Boston’s South Boston neighborhood, Sunday, March 15, 2015. Boston’s mayors have boycotted the event since 1995, when the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council took its fight to exclude gay groups all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and won. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

: Protesters shout slogans during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters shout slogans during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters shout slogans during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters shout slogans during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters shout slogans during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters shout slogans during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: Protesters shout slogans during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: Archbishop Timothy Dolan (C) waves as he walks past a group of protesters during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: Marchers pass a group of protesters during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: The New York City Police Department band marches past a group of protesters during the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17, 2015. The group was protesting the exclusion of Gay groups from the parade. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

: Gay rights supporters protest against the exclusion of the gay community from the St. Patrick’s Day parade during the annual parade, in New York, March 17 2014. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)

: Gay rights supporters protest against the exclusion of the gay community from the St. Patrick’s Day parade during the annual event in New York on March 17, 2014. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)

: Revelers watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade along Fifth Ave in Manhattan on March 17, 2014 in New York City. Political controversy surrounded this year’s parade, as New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio decided not to march due to the parade organizer’s policy to ban participants that identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Heineken and Guinness announced earlier that they would drop their sponsorship of the parade for along the same reasons. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

: A bagpiper marches in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade along Fifth Ave in Manhattan on March 17, 2014 in New York City. Political controversy surrounded this year’s parade, as New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio decided not to march due to the parade organizer’s policy to ban participants that identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Heineken and Guinness announced earlier that they would drop their sponsorship of the parade for along the same reasons. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

St. Patrick’s Day (not quite) for all

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