You know, there's many gay Irish people as there are gay anything. It's not like if you're gay you can't march in the parade. This is a general blanket ban against any kind of politically aligned group of people marching in the parade, right? But, as I understand it, it's not specific to gay rights groups. MARTIN: And what about this particular ban? There are gay rights groups who have been protesting this ban for years.
It's as much an immigrant event, I think, is an Irish event. So this was, in the beginning, it was like we're not ever leaving, we're here to stay and, you know, we're proud of who we are and we're continuing to go into America. And it's, you know, been a traditional assertion of Irish identity and Irish presence in New York, especially for the immigrant community which came here and felt that it was very unwelcome.Īnd there was a whole nativist movement in America to turn around. So it's pretty spectacular event as far as parades go - ethnic parades. It's 200,000 people march, maybe a million watch it. I think people who come from outside of the city or from Ireland are kind of incredulous of the sheer size of the. MARTIN: So, first off, can you just tell us a little bit about what the New York in Manhattan parade is like and what it means to march in it? PETER QUINN: Thanks, Rachel, for having me.
He's now a novelist who writes books about Irish America. He's a former speechwriter for New York Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is one of those boycotting his city's events, which will be held tomorrow.įor more, we turn to Peter Quinn. But several high profile regulars have decided to sit out the events because of a ban on gays marching openly as a group in the parades.
#Gay pride nyc parade 2014 full#
There is a whole lot of shamrock green on full display this weekend, as cities around the country hold their annual St.