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Gay news: Exclusion of gay groups is 'deeply un-Irish and discriminatory'
Gays are banned from the St Patick's Parade
Dublin Pride condemns NYC's anti-gay St Patrick's Day Parade
New York City's St Patrick's Day Parade, which refuses to allow gay groups to participate, has been condemned for the policy by Dublin's gay pride organisation.
Frank Cleary, chairman of Dublin Pride, said in a press release:
"The exclusion of any groups from celebrating our national holiday abroad is deeply discriminatory and rooted in closed-mindedness; this is deeply un-Irish and something we cannot allow to happen in the name of an event that is about celebrating Ireland's rich cultural heritage, of which the LGBT community are a cornerstone here in Ireland.
"Dublin Pride is calling on the organisers of the St Patrick's Day festival in New York to cease their discrimination and to facilitate a full expression of the cultural diversity that exists in Ireland."
Elsewhere in the US, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has been accused of hypocrisy for taking part in Boston's pre-St Patrick's day march, which also excludes gay groups and which mayor Thomas Menino refuses to attend for that reason.
On Sunday night, Adams also attended and spoke at a Boston club that bars women, despite his party's condemnation of "elitist and sexist" men-only establishments.
David Ford, leader of Northern Ireland's Alliance Party, said: "Sinn Fein at home talks a lot about inclusivity and equality.
"On the face of it it seems Mr Adams applies different standards in the US."
