Dublin parade for gay NY councillor

NEW YORK’S only openly gay city councillor will march in this year’s Dublin St Patrick’s Day Parade in a deliberate snub to her home city.

Cllr Christine Quinn is protesting at the organisers of the Big Apple’s parade, who have continually refused to allowed gay people to walk under their own banner on St Patrick’s Day.

She said Dublin City Council invited her to join in the celebrations on this side of the Atlantic and she has accepted.

“My participation in Dublin’s parade is an opportunity to march openly as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community, something we have not been able to do in New York City.

“I hope my participation in the Dublin march will send a message about the importance of inclusion,” she said.

The New York City parade is organised by the Ancient Order of the Hibernians. This group has refused to allow gay floats or banners to be in the parade since the issue first arose, in 1991.

Last year, when she became leader of the New York city council, Cllr Quinn attempted to pacify the Ancient Order but when this failed she decided to boycott the event.

Her family is originally from Ireland and in a statement released this weekend she said she would use the trip to promote a range of issues of concern for the Irish-American community.