Sunnyside Parade Celebrates Pride Of The Irish
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It may seem like there are too many St. Patrick’s Day Parades in New York to count, but NY1’s CeFaan Kim reports, there's something different about the annual parade held in Sunnyside.Sunday was the perfect day for the 11th annual St. Patrick’s For All Parade.
"You get to celebrate and there's music and everything. And you get to jump around and stuff!" said one parade-goer.
Whether New Yorkers came for the dancing or for the music, the St. Patrick’s For All Parade offered something different, as it was specifically created to include the gay community.
"Members from the LGBT Irish community were excluded from other St. Patrick's celebrations, in fact in all the other boroughs,” said parade co-founder Brendan Fay.
And what would a parade be without politicians? Christine Quinn, is the city's first openly-gay council speaker. She's also proud of her Irish heritage.
"Real Irish folks want to celebrate and embrace diversity,” she said.
"It is an inclusive parade and I for one believe that parades should be open to everyone,” added Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"My family landed here in Sunnyside 150 years ago and in those days there were signs that said 'Irish need not apply,'” said Councilman Daniel Dromm, a co-founder of the parade. “Unfortunately today we have this fight within our own community."
Not everyone agrees with message of the parade's organizers. A handful of protestors did turn out to voice their opposition.
The parade is always held weeks before the bigger Manhattan St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will be marching up Fifth Avenue on March 17th.