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| Gay groups voice scepticism of new New York St Patricks Day parade policy | Gay groups voice scepticism of new New York St Patricks Day parade policy |
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| Organisers of the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York hailed their decision on Wednesday to admit LGBT marchers to participate openly at next year’s parade as a gesture of inclusivity to gay campaigners who have fought a longstanding ban. | Organisers of the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York hailed their decision on Wednesday to admit LGBT marchers to participate openly at next year’s parade as a gesture of inclusivity to gay campaigners who have fought a longstanding ban. |
| But some activists complain that the only group given permission to march is connected to the event’s official broadcaster, NBC. | But some activists complain that the only group given permission to march is connected to the event’s official broadcaster, NBC. |
| The Irish Central website reported that the station, WNBC, NBC’s New York-based station, had been “prepared to drop its coverage” unless a compromise was reached to include a gay group in the event. No other gay groups will be admitted in 2015. | The Irish Central website reported that the station, WNBC, NBC’s New York-based station, had been “prepared to drop its coverage” unless a compromise was reached to include a gay group in the event. No other gay groups will be admitted in 2015. |
| Following more than two decades of dispute over a ban on displays of gay identity at the annual event, organisers announced on Wednesday that Out@NBCUniversal would be permitted to participate “under its own banner” in the March 2015 event. | Following more than two decades of dispute over a ban on displays of gay identity at the annual event, organisers announced on Wednesday that Out@NBCUniversal would be permitted to participate “under its own banner” in the March 2015 event. |
| “This change of tone and expanded inclusiveness is a gesture of goodwill to the LGBT community in our continuing effort to keep the parade above politics as it moves into its 253rd year, all the while remaining loyal to church teachings and the principles that have guided the parade committee for so many decades,” Bill O’Reilly, a spokesman, said in a statement. | “This change of tone and expanded inclusiveness is a gesture of goodwill to the LGBT community in our continuing effort to keep the parade above politics as it moves into its 253rd year, all the while remaining loyal to church teachings and the principles that have guided the parade committee for so many decades,” Bill O’Reilly, a spokesman, said in a statement. |
| WNBC is the longstanding broadcaster of the event. An NBC spokeswoman said in an email later on Wednesday that the Out group had formally applied to the organisers. “We welcome the parade committee’s decision to accept Out@NBCUniversal’s application to march and enthusiastically embrace the gesture of inclusion,” Craig Robinson, executive vice president and chief diversity officer for NBCUniversal, said in a statement. | WNBC is the longstanding broadcaster of the event. An NBC spokeswoman said in an email later on Wednesday that the Out group had formally applied to the organisers. “We welcome the parade committee’s decision to accept Out@NBCUniversal’s application to march and enthusiastically embrace the gesture of inclusion,” Craig Robinson, executive vice president and chief diversity officer for NBCUniversal, said in a statement. |
| Andrew Brewer, a vice-president for program content at NBC and a member of the Out group, was credited with securing the deal. Brewer said that he was “beyond thrilled” in a post on his Facebook page. “Everyone who knows me knows I began working on this two years ago,” he wrote. Frank Comerford, the chief revenue officer for NBC-owned television stations, is a member of the parade committee and is understood to have also helped reach the agreement. | Andrew Brewer, a vice-president for program content at NBC and a member of the Out group, was credited with securing the deal. Brewer said that he was “beyond thrilled” in a post on his Facebook page. “Everyone who knows me knows I began working on this two years ago,” he wrote. Frank Comerford, the chief revenue officer for NBC-owned television stations, is a member of the parade committee and is understood to have also helped reach the agreement. |
| However, other gay groups are expected to be allowed to apply to participate only from 2016. While welcoming the overall change in policy, some that have campaigned for years against the ban were critical of its implementation. | However, other gay groups are expected to be allowed to apply to participate only from 2016. While welcoming the overall change in policy, some that have campaigned for years against the ban were critical of its implementation. |
| The decision to admit only the NBC group was described as “disappointing and self-serving” by Nathan Schaefer, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, a leading LBGT rights group in the city. In a statement, he urged the organisers to “go even further” and allow other openly LBGT marchers in 2015. | |
| “It creaks open the door, but I question why it was given to corporate gay organisation that isn’t about Irish history or Irish culture, and doesn’t have LGBT in its name,” said Allen Roskoff, a veteran campaigner who said that he had been arrested several times protesting against the St Patrick’s Day event over the years. | “It creaks open the door, but I question why it was given to corporate gay organisation that isn’t about Irish history or Irish culture, and doesn’t have LGBT in its name,” said Allen Roskoff, a veteran campaigner who said that he had been arrested several times protesting against the St Patrick’s Day event over the years. |
| “It is certainly suspect,” said Roskoff, the president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, a gay rights group. “They may be great people, but I never heard of them being part of the struggle to be a part of this march. When did they apply? How did they apply?” | “It is certainly suspect,” said Roskoff, the president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, a gay rights group. “They may be great people, but I never heard of them being part of the struggle to be a part of this march. When did they apply? How did they apply?” |
| NBC states that the Out group aims to “attract, develop and retain lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight ally employees and to help NBCUniversal’s businesses effectively reach the LGBTQA community”. | NBC states that the Out group aims to “attract, develop and retain lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight ally employees and to help NBCUniversal’s businesses effectively reach the LGBTQA community”. |
| A refusal to lift the ban last year led Guinness, the brewers, to withdraw sponsorship from the New York event. A similar longstanding ban on gay marchers in Boston’s own event also prompted Samuel Adams and Heineken to remove their endorsement of the city’s parade. | A refusal to lift the ban last year led Guinness, the brewers, to withdraw sponsorship from the New York event. A similar longstanding ban on gay marchers in Boston’s own event also prompted Samuel Adams and Heineken to remove their endorsement of the city’s parade. |
| The Irish Queers group said in a statement that while its members “welcome this cracking of the veneer of hate,” the deal with Out@NBCUniversal had been “made behind closed doors between parade organisers and one of their last remaining sponsors”. | The Irish Queers group said in a statement that while its members “welcome this cracking of the veneer of hate,” the deal with Out@NBCUniversal had been “made behind closed doors between parade organisers and one of their last remaining sponsors”. |
| “It allows NBC’s gay employees to march, but embarrassingly has not ended the exclusion of Irish LGBT groups,” the statement said. “The parade organisers have said, astoundingly, that we ‘can apply’ in years to come.” | “It allows NBC’s gay employees to march, but embarrassingly has not ended the exclusion of Irish LGBT groups,” the statement said. “The parade organisers have said, astoundingly, that we ‘can apply’ in years to come.” |
| Bill de Blasio, New York city’s mayor, boycotted this year’s march, which is the world’s biggest St Patrick’s Day celebration, because of the ban on gay participants marching openly. He was joined by several city lawmakers including city council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who described Wednesday’s move as “a welcome first step”. | Bill de Blasio, New York city’s mayor, boycotted this year’s march, which is the world’s biggest St Patrick’s Day celebration, because of the ban on gay participants marching openly. He was joined by several city lawmakers including city council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who described Wednesday’s move as “a welcome first step”. |
| “For far too long the St Patrick’s Day Parade excluded New Yorkers just because of who they to love. I am happy organisers finally realized that this parade is better when all are invited,” she said. | “For far too long the St Patrick’s Day Parade excluded New Yorkers just because of who they to love. I am happy organisers finally realized that this parade is better when all are invited,” she said. |
| Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, who is to be the parade’s grand marshal next year, said in a statement that the organisers continued to have his “confidence and support”. | Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, who is to be the parade’s grand marshal next year, said in a statement that the organisers continued to have his “confidence and support”. |
| Attention is now likely to shift to Boston, whose ban remains in place. Marty Walsh, Boston’s mayor, boycotted the event this year after eleventh-hour talks on lifting the ban collapsed. | Attention is now likely to shift to Boston, whose ban remains in place. Marty Walsh, Boston’s mayor, boycotted the event this year after eleventh-hour talks on lifting the ban collapsed. |
| MassEquality, an LGBT rights campaign group in Massachusetts, had campaigned to persuade the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, which organises the parade, to allow gay veterans to openly take part. | MassEquality, an LGBT rights campaign group in Massachusetts, had campaigned to persuade the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, which organises the parade, to allow gay veterans to openly take part. |
| Organisers continue to cite a unanimous 1995 US supreme court ruling that they are not legally obliged to admit openly gay marchers. The ruling reversed a Massachusetts state court order to do so, holding that this violated the organisers’ first amendment rights. | Organisers continue to cite a unanimous 1995 US supreme court ruling that they are not legally obliged to admit openly gay marchers. The ruling reversed a Massachusetts state court order to do so, holding that this violated the organisers’ first amendment rights. |
| A spokesman for MassEquality said in a statement that Wednesday’s move was a “welcome and long overdue first step,” but stressed that the group would continue working “towards the day when both the South Boston and New York St Patrick’s Day Parades fully end their discriminatory bans and allow all LGBT groups to march.” | A spokesman for MassEquality said in a statement that Wednesday’s move was a “welcome and long overdue first step,” but stressed that the group would continue working “towards the day when both the South Boston and New York St Patrick’s Day Parades fully end their discriminatory bans and allow all LGBT groups to march.” |