Sunday, March 18, 2012

Irish Queers and LGBT Community Protest Homophobic NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade

Irish Queers and LGBT Community Protest Homophobic NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade

-by Tommy News Thomas

The US Supreme Court decided that gays cannot march in the St.
Patrick's Day Parades in Boston or New York because they are "Private
Events", yet they are not private events at all. Thousands of Public
employess on and off duty, including Police, Firefighters, Military,
sanitation workers, government officials, etc. march on public
property in a public parade, sanctioning homophobic bigotry and
discrimination against the LGBT community. This is not a "Private
Event", it is government funded and sanctioned discrimination. This
sends a message of hatred and intolerance and must be loudly
condemned. Gays march proudly and openly in the Dublin, Ireland
Parade. The cities of New York and Boston, and all Americans, should
be deeply ashamed. "Traditional Family Values"? NO!
This parade represents homophobic discrimination!

The group "Irish Queers" again took up the call to arms this year in
another annual New York City protest, and I had the honor of
participating. Sidelined by the parade organizers, The Ancient Order
of Hibernians, "St. Patrick's Day Parade, Inc" and by police, we
organized gathered and spole out in protest.

Protest signs were provided by Irish Queers. I selected wisely and
chose to hold a sign aloft that read:
"Who is the Patron Saint of BIGOTRY?"
I held a rainbow flag with the sign, which garnered alot of
attention and was photographed by many. One female marcher screamed in
reply to my sign: "YOU ARE!" One male Marcher shouted "I AM!" and we
booed him. Many others applauded us and gave the thumbs up. We
chanted "Let Us
March! Let Us March!" Some looked and reacted in disgust and muttered
"Fags", etc. Others looked away. A group of young male thugs grabbed
many of our signs and ran off with them, but we chased them down the
street and recovered
most. Later cops tried to remove our signs, but I implored them to
please give them back to me, and they did.

We had a good turnout, and our parade protest was featured on the NBC
11 PM evening news. Our message was heard loud and clear.


I left near the end of the Parade, exhausted, and had a corned beef
and cabbage dinner and a well deserved cold Guinesss Stout beer
with a friend in on my way home.

Shame upon the St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Cities of New York and Boston.

Please join in the protest and take action:

New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint
against city funded bigotry and exclusion.

Call, Email, Fax, and Write The Parade Organizers Here:

"Traditional Family Values"? NO!
This parade represents homophobic discrimination!

NYC SAINT PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

St Patrick's Day Parade & Celebration Committee

P.O. Box 295 Woodlawn Station,

Bronx, NY 10470

Phone Number: 718-231-4400 718-231-4400

Fax: 718-231-4401

Web Site: NYCStPatricksParade.Org

Web Site Information: HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.Org

General Info:Information@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org

Chairman: Chairman-NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org

Scholarship: Scholarship@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org
Chairman of Bands: Band@NYC-St-Patrick-Day-Parade.Org

FAQ or Information requests
please contact
Hilary Beirne
HBeirne@NYCStPatricksParade.Org


New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.

Contact New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg here and register a
complaint against city funded bigotry and exclusion.


www.MikeBloomberg.com

Phone: (212) 639-9675
Fax: (212) 788-2460

City of New York City
1 Centre Street
New York City, NY 10007-1200

Contact New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo here:

http://www.congress.org/

Albany Office:

State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224
Phone: (518) 486-4623
Fax: (518) 486-4170

Contact NBC and other Media here:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/?command=org_pages&org_id=559

Website: www.msnbc.com/news
Phone: (212) 664-4444
Fax: (201) 583-5453
Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112

Contact the Ancient Order of Hibernians Here:

Greater Gospel Temple Aoh
2408 E 83rd St
Cleveland, OH 44104
(216) 231-6068

http://www.aoh.com/officers.html

New York City residents should call 311 and register a complaint.


Contact and Boycott the Parade Sponsors register a complaint against
sponsoring bigotry and exclusion:


Quinnipiac University

275 Mount Carmel Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518-1908
Telephone 203-582-8200 203-582-8200
Admissions and Financial Aid: 800-462-1944 800-462-1944
www.quinnipiac.edu

Manhattan College

Visa

Irish Connections Visa

Empire City Yonkers Raceway

www.yonkersraceway.com

FORD MOTOR COMPANY

MANHATTAN COLLEGE

Group Photos, Inc.

Ireland Calls Radio Show

Pride of Irish Heritage

The Irish Examiner

Tourism Ireland

Turtle Wax

Budweiser

Sponsor links here:

http://nyc-st-patrick-day-parade.org/links.aspx


--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

--
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