LGBT History Made in NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

On Thursday people around the country celebrated St. Patrick’s Day but in New York City this year’s festivities were extra special for the LGBT community. “This year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade — the world’s oldest and largest — also proved to be a historic one, as openly gay and lesbian groups were allowed to march in the parade, ending a quarter-century long ban,” according to NBC. “I never thought I’d see the day when I could march up Fifth Avenue in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade with my husband,” said Brendan Fay, chairman of the Lavender and Green Alliance, as the parade began. “When we started in 1991, after getting arrested so many times for protesting the parade, wow, what a moment this is.” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio marched in the parade for the first time this year too. He boycotted the parade for his first two years in office because of the parade’s ban on LGBT advocacy groups. “Today everyone is celebrating together,” de Blasio said. “The city is at peace and unified.”