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Most Staten Island elected officials will sit out 2022 St. Patrick's Parade to stand with LGBTQ
Staten Island AdvanceSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — When Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade organizers barred a group of gay and transgender military veterans from marching in 2017, some of the most prominent politicians in Massachusetts said they’d boycott the parade, and the organizers reversed course.
On Staten Island, most local elected officials have opted not to not march in the upcoming St. Patrick’s Parade, and said that they believe the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee should allow LGBTQ groups to participate in the event, scheduled for the first weekend in March.
In 2020, the last time parade was held before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, only Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) marched. Malliotakis was a state assemblywoman representing the East Shore and South Brooklyn at the time. Neither she nor Lanza responded to a request for comment by the time of publication on Tuesday.
City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) tried to march, but a parade marshal prevented him, because of a small rainbow flag worn on his lapel.
On Monday, Borelli said he wouldn’t be marching this year, and that he suspects the continued exclusion of LGBTQ groups would be the parade’s undoing.
On Staten Island, most local elected officials have opted not to not march in the upcoming St. Patrick’s Parade, and said that they believe the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee should allow LGBTQ groups to participate in the event, scheduled for the first weekend in March.
In 2020, the last time parade was held before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, only Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) marched. Malliotakis was a state assemblywoman representing the East Shore and South Brooklyn at the time. Neither she nor Lanza responded to a request for comment by the time of publication on Tuesday.
City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) tried to march, but a parade marshal prevented him, because of a small rainbow flag worn on his lapel.
On Monday, Borelli said he wouldn’t be marching this year, and that he suspects the continued exclusion of LGBTQ groups would be the parade’s undoing.
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