UPDATED: Gay Vets Banned from Boston St. Patty's Day Parade

[DonViejo]

Last edited Thu Mar 9, 2017, 01:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Mediaite

by Adam Pribila 11:17 am, March 9th, 2017

Theres no doubt that the Boston St. Patricks Day Parade is the most well-known of its breed in the country. This years parade is already off to a news-making start, and it is still weeks away. [link:https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/03/08/gay-veterans-group-says-was-denied-spot-south-boston-parade/qjtliAEyvWjY1uYU0KEb7J/story.htmlMultiple] [link:http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/08/news/companies/anheuser-busch-boston-st-patricks-parade/index.html?srtwCNN030917anheuser-busch-boston-st-patricks-parade0327PMVODtopPhoto&linkId35290409news media] [link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/03/09/backlash-boycott-threats-in-boston-after-gay-vets-banned-from-st-patricks-day-parade/?tidsm_tw&utm_term.aaa0e49bbe6eoutlets] are reporting that the organizers of the event have reinstated a ban on gay veterans participating in the parade. The organization being strong-armed out of the festivities is OutVets, a group that honors LGBT veterans and active service members.

The Allied War Veterans Council of South Boston was behind the divisive decision, ruling 9-4 in favor of keeping OutVets from marching in the March 19th parade, even though they had been participants for the last two years. Backlash has been swift and severe.

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has said that he will boycott the parade unless the decision is reversed:

[div class"excerpt"]I will not tolerate discrimination in our city of any form. We are one Boston, which means we are a fully inclusive city. I will not be marching in the parade unless this is resolved. Anyone who values what our city stands for should do the same.



Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/online/gay-vets-banned-from-boston-st-pattys-day-parade/

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UPDATE:

St. Patrick’s Day parade organizers will reconsider allowing gay group to march

By Associated Press · Thursday, March 9, 2017

BOSTON (AP) — The organizers of Boston‘s St. Patrick’s Day parade have scheduled an emergency meeting to reconsider their vote to bar a gay veterans group from participating.

The vote Tuesday to bar OutVets drew immediate condemnation from high-profile politicians.

Ed Flynn, a member of the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, which organizes the parade scheduled for March 19, says the emergency meeting will take place Friday. Flynn voted to allow Outvets in.

Members of the council and OutVets met Wednesday but could not resolve the impasse.

more
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/03/st-patricks-day-parade-organizers-will-reconsider-allowing-gay-group-march

[brooklynite]

1. UPDATE: St. Patricks parade planners to reconsider gay veterans ban

Boston Globe:

The organizers of Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade have scheduled an emergency meeting to reconsider their vote to bar a gay veterans group from participating.

The vote Tuesday to bar OutVets drew immediate condemnation from high-profile politicians.

Ed Flynn, a member of the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, which organizes the parade scheduled for March 19, says the emergency meeting will take place Friday. Flynn voted to allow Outvets in.

Members of the council and OutVets met Wednesday but could not resolve the impasse.

[obamanut2012]

3. That's because the Mayor and the GOP Gov said they were boycotting

[Chipper Chat]

2. Why don't they just cancel the parade?

Would save the city mucho $$$$$$$

[brooklynite]

4. I think the point is: a private entity can request a permit for a parade, open or not

[Submariner]

5. Southie is a breed apart from the rest of Greater Boston

They feel some Whitey Bulger tough guy crap has rubbed off on them, and they use that Irish Mick bluster against those of us from Somerville, Charlestown and Dorchester.

I predict they will cave now that they have again embarrassed themselves on the nation's stage.

[burnbaby]

9. Hey I'm from North Cambridge

born raised and left 17 years ago.

[Aristus]

6. Oh for the love of GOD, source-blogger!

It's Saint Paddy's Day!

'Paddy' is a nickname for Padraigh, the Irish form of the name 'Patrick'.

[FairWinds]

7. Those valiant patriots from Southie . .

also have a marching ban against the Smedley Butler Brigade
of Veterans For Peace.

http://www.smedleyvfp.com/

I'm a VFP member.

[burnbaby]

8. Oy

I thought this was long over many years ago. Things must have changed since I left

[Hortensis]

10. Wow, but good! "reconsidering." NO discriminatory publicly

sanctioned events should ever take place on public property. That's for private groups on private property.

[riversedge]

11. Idiots thinking-hoping to discriminate now that they have a bigot in the WH!!

[OKNancy]

12. Boston St. Patricks Day Parade Reverses Ban On LGBTQ Group

Parade organizers buckled after a fierce backlash.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/boston-st-patricks-day-parade_us_58c1cbc3e4b054a0ea694440?section=us_queer-voices

Link to tweet

[HoneyBadger]

13. St Patrick's Day parades have always been known for drunken violence and discrimination

There is an inclusive one in Sunnyside that would accept the gay vet marchers.

[Hekate]

14. Paddy. The Irish nickname for Patrick is Paddy. Irish for Patrick is Padraig. Paddy.

What happened this year? My whole life the US has agreed on Paddy -- all of a sudden this year the patron saint of Ireland has been given a girly nickname.

I know you were just copying the headline like we're supposed to and it's not your fault, but this is bugging the heck out of me.

Oh, and back on topic: Good luck to OutVets. I hope they get to march.