March 10, 2006
Christine and the St. Patty's Parade Decision
Next Friday will be a big one for the new City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. It's St. Patrick's Day, and the Speaker usually marches in the parade, alongside the Mayor and other city officials. But Quinn is in the process of deciding whether she will attend, because of the parade does not allow gay groups to march. Quinn was arrested in 1999 for trying to march in the Bronx St. Patrick's Day parade, and has criticized the Mayor for marching in the "exclusive" Fifth Avenue parade. Gay activists are hoping that her presence as a lesbian public official will pave the way for Irish LBG groups to march, but as Newsday points out the parade organizers are fine with gays marching - as long as they are not part of an organized gay group - we doubt the parade will change that easily. But we will Quinn will march - but maybe with an upside-down clover in protest. At any rate, she'll keep us on our toes till the day itself - she'll decide then.
And can you belive it's only seven days until the St. Patrick's Day Parade? If last weekend's St. Patrick's Day parade in Hoboken is a preview, you best bring your galoshes. The parade will start at 11AM, on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street all the way up to 86th Street.
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I used to get all up in arms over the St. P's day parade, since it seemed to reflect the worst of my race, until I found perspective in that great source of wisdom, The Simpsons.
During the Springfield St. Paddy's day parade, the announcer intones: "Look, there's the gay Irish lining up to watch the parade. Of course, they can't march because they reinforce stereotypes. And look, here come a bunch of drunken Irishmen..."
My thinking is since Christine Quinn's identity is so well-known, I think ILGO (are they still ILGO?) should just march with her, like an entourage, without a banner, because they wouldn't need one if they were marching with the City Council Speaker. Tom Duane could march with them, too...
Anywho, it's my daughter's birthday, so it would be nice of everyone to turn out for that.
It's not a clover, it's a shamrock