LGBT group invited to march in New York St Patrick's Day Parade

Irish gay rights group Lavender & Green Alliance will be allowed to march in the 2016 New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

This will be the first time that an Irish gay group will march with the blessing of the parade organisers.

In a statement released by the parade directors they have said: “The Lavender & Green Alliance will be the second lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender group to march in the historic parafe, joining Out@NBC which marched in the 2015 parade and has been invited to march again in 2016.”

Brendan Fay, founder and chair of the Lavender & Green Alliance, called the invitation to march in the parade an “historic decision which reflects the feelings of most Irish and Irish Americans.”

“We celebrate the welcome. St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2016, will be a great day for hospitality and inclusion,” said Mr Fay, originally from Drogheda, Co Louth.

“The decision to invite an Irish Gay organization, The Lavender & Green Alliance/ Muintir Aerach na hEireann, by the Board of Directors of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade sends a positive message across the Irish Cultural landscape,” Mr Fay said.

“As LGBT Irish Americans we thank John Lahey and the members of the board for this historic decision which reflects the feelings of most Irish and Irish Americans. With the decision we cross a historic threshold and our members will proudly march up Fifth Avenue with our banner.”

H/T to the Irish Echo.