Greeny News

As a gay guy from Dublin, I know how modern Ireland celebrates St. Patrick. I'll go on the fanaticism of fashion in New York

As an Irishman, is a test that says I want a little less each year. But with a sort of playful resignation: the parade on St. Patrick again, is

guess I'd better complain leprechaun hats and discordant racial stereotypes, but over time, use some sort of green stuff and drink too much beer, in spite of myself. It is true that the celebration in Dublin can be fun, even if it is a blatant kitsch fest. This year, I actually had hopes even higher, having recently moved to New York - home of the world's largest parade, St. Patrick's Day. It would certainly be better here, I thought Fifth Avenue in March could be exciting.

I was wrong. Not green clothing, not really, and is not promotional websites that look like they are designed in a way in 1950. No, as a gay person, my negative attitude is due to something completely different: the organizers to ban me and other gay people, to participate openly. In one of the most diverse cities in the world, groups and gay, Irish or otherwise, can not walk under their own flags on Day Parade on Fifth Avenue from St. Patrick.

Why? And indeed, how? In short, the organizers say the parade is a religious procession, which is technically a private event. For many years, the Catholic Order of Hibernians old group sponsored the parade. Strictly enforced the ban on homosexuals by asserting its legal right to do so on the basis of a 1995 decision unanimously, the Supreme Court of the United States on a similar ban in Boston - a decision that said sponsors a parade can exclude whomever they want. And while the old order has fallen since the organization to lead the parade, some of the volunteer committee are still current members of the Order. The ban is.