Please read. Please act!.As we hope to illustrate in upcoming posts, St. Patrick’s Day—and celebrati
Please read. Please act!.As we hope to illustrate in upcoming posts, St. Patrick’s Day—and celebrations thereof—is of unique significance in the queer community, particularly for those in Boston and New York..For decades, Irish American queer activists fought for the right to be included in St. Patrick’s Day parades, which often were—and are—organized by conservative and/or religious organizations. In 1995, a gay veterans group in Boston sued that city’s parade organizers in a case that went before the Supreme Court, which ruled that forcing the organizers to include gay veterans would be a violation of the First Amendment..In recent years, parade organizers reversed course and, in both Boston and New York, St. Patrick’s Day parades became more open and inclusive..On Tuesday, March 7, 2017, however, the South Boston Allied War Veteran’s Council, the organizers of Boston’s parade, voted 9 to 4 to exclude a gay veterans group, OutVets, from the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day festivities. A backlash followed..The Veteran’s Council is meeting tomorrow, March 10, to reconsider its vote..PLEASE call them and let them know that the world is watching: 1-844-478-7287. You only will have to leave a message; consider saying something like, “My name is [___] and I believe that Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade should include all veterans; anything less is shameful.” For more contact info, see southbostonparade.org..One phone call. 844-478-7287..Picture: “IRISH AMERICAN GAY, LESBIAN and BISEXUAL GROUP OF BOSTON” protest march (with veteran and pioneering bi activist Cliff Arnesen, in camouflage), Boston, Massachusetts, March 15, 1992. Photo © Clifton F. Arnesen II. #lgbthistory #HavePrideInHistory #Resist (at Boston, Massachusetts) -- source link
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