Last week, thousands took to the streets of NYC to celebrate the 27th St Pat’s for All parade. This alternative parade, founded in 2000, is a beautiful showing of inclusion in celebration of Irish heritage, but it stems from the exclusion of LGBTQ+ groups from the traditional New York City St Patrick’s Day parade.

Here is a timeline of the history of the parade, showing how LGBTQ+ groups were systematically prevented from taking part.

1762
The first St Patrick’s Day parade takes place in New York.

1836
The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) was founded. It would go on to become the official sponsor of the parade. The AOH is strictly Roman Catholic.

1989
Dorothy Hayden Cudahy becomes the first female Grand Marshal of the parade, after a four-year campaign.

1990
ILGO (Irish Lesbian and Gay Organisation) requested to march in the upcoming 1991 parade. The AOH denied the application. According to the report, “the City administration urged the AOH to admit ILGO to the 1991 Parade.

“When AOH refused to do so, a compromise was struck whereby ILGO members were permitted to march in 1991, not as an affiliated unit, but as guests of a Hibernian unit. Mayor Dinkins marched with ILGO rather than at the head of the Parade, where the Mayor usually marches.”

1991
ILGO was allowed to march with the AOH and the mayor, but not under their own banner. ILGO and the mayor were booed and doused in beer.

1992
In 1992, LGBTQ+ groups were essentially banned from marching in the New York City St Patrick’s Day parade. This was “on the grounds that homosexual practises are against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church,” as per an article by Conor O’Cleary on March 9, 1992.

The district court ruled that the parade could ban whatever organisations it wanted from participating. Mayor Dinkins boycotted the parade. It was reported that around 500 ILGO members marched ahead of the parade in protest of their exclusion.

Meanwhile, in Ireland, Cork included its first-ever LGBTQ+ float in their parade, and it won best new entry that year.

1993
The next year, the same protest happened, and 179 protesters, mostly LGBTQ+, were arrested. It was reported that “Members of the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organisation (ILGO) and their supporters, chanting, ‘Two, four, six, eight – how do you know St Patrick’s straight?’ sat down in the middle of Fifth Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets.”

Meanwhile, in Ireland, same-sex acts were decriminalised.

1994
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Robert Sackett threw out the charges against the protesters because their arrests were a “blatant denial of First Amendment rights.”

1995
ILGO applies for a permit to host their own parade on March 17. The application was denied.

The Supreme Court rules in favour of the AOH, allowing them to deny participation to any group they wish, as the parade is a private religious event.

2000
The first St Pat’s for All parade took place.

70 ILGO protesters who were arrested at the traditional parade spent the night behind bars. The punishment meted out to protesters had increased.

2006
Christine Quinn, Speaker of the New York City Council, boycotted the parade after her request to wear a Pride pin or sash while marching was denied.

2010
Mary McAleese declined an invitation to be the grand marshal of the New York City St Patrick’s Day parade.

2014
Guinness pulled their sponsorship for the event, stating, “We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year’s parade. As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation. We will continue to work with community leaders to ensure that future parades have an inclusionary policy.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio boycotts the parade due to its stance on LGBTQ+ groups. Enda Kenny still attended that year, though.

2015
An LGBTQ+ group from NBC Universal marched in the parade.

2016
It was only in 2016 that the ban was effectively lifted. The Lavender and Green Alliance, an LGBTQ+  group which had been applying to take part in the parade since 1994, were allowed to march. Brendan Fay, founder of St Pat’s for All, marches in the parade. De Blasio broke his boycott to march with the alliance.

2018
The Lavender and Green Alliance led the parade and were cheered all along the avenue.