Irish President Says "No" to NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade Due to Gay Ban

The reality is that many nations are moving ahead of the USA in terms of granting ALL of their citizens full equality and are leaving religious based anti-gay discrimination on the trash heap of history. Increasingly, bigotry carries a real price. This fact is frequently lost on self-righteous and self-congratulatory religious bigots until they have someone give them the equivalent of a hard smack across the face. The latest bigots to receive such a slap are the organizers of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade down 5th Avenue in New York City. Next year will be the parade's 250th anniversary and I'm sure they wanted to do something special. Thus, Irish president Mary McAleese (pictured at left) was invited to be Grand Marshal of the 250th St.Patrick’s Day parade in New York. I'm sure much to the shock of the parade organizers - who ban LGBT Irish groups from the parade - Ms. McAleese said no. It seems that she does not countenance discrimination and has no desire to be a part of the parade's exclusionary practices. Irish Central has details of the story. Here are some highlights:
*
Irish President Mary McAleese has turned down an invitation to be grand marshal of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade in 2011, the historic 250th anniversary of the event. The turn down is said to be connected to the issue of gays being refused the right to march in the parade under their own banners, and McAleese’s strong relationship with gay and lesbian organizations in Ireland.
*
McAleese’s refusal to accept the grand marshal invite will come as major blow to parade officials who were intent on making the day an historic showcase.
*
Despite a reputation as a conservative Catholic when she took office, McAleese has become a firm advocate for marginalized groups in Irish societies including gay groups. She is very popular with such groups and was risking putting one of the signature accomplishments of her presidency at risk if she accepted the New York invite to lead the parade.
*
The parade committee has been way out of step with modern Irish sensibility on this issue and this is now reflected in the McAleese decision which came as no shock to those who know her.