Once again GLBT are prohibited from marching as a group in the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Mass Equality and Join the Impact applied to march in the parade but were denied by parade sponsors (the Allied War Veterans Council). SCOTUS gave them the right to do so in the 1995 case Hurley vs. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Group of Boston.
[It is] emblematic of more life-altering rejection that LGBT people face in Massachusetts every day.
I think this is the work we do every day of changing hearts and minds. There will be a day when we will be welcomed in this parade.
--Kara Suffredini, MassEquality
It’s a family event, and we strongly discourage people drinking along the parade route.
--Ed Flynn, commander of the Allied War Veterans Council
Ah…a
family event. No wonder GLBT people aren't allowed.
So I can't put this creation to rest just yet.
Jaded Shamrock
Snakes
St. Patrick
drove the snakes
out of Ireland
I often wonder
where they went
I also wonder
on this day
of celebration
why people
who are Irish
and gay
are not allowed
to celebrate
being both
in public
--Robyn Elaine Serven
--March 17, 2006
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