Letter to the Editor
regarding the parade
Why do LGBT groups want to march in the St. Patricks Day Parade, and why aren’t they allowed to? It’s a difficult question with no right answer. The intent of going to court over this absurd question was to keep sexuality out of the parade, but now sexuality consumes the parade. Every year the parade organizers deny LGBT groups the chance to march, and every year the media turns this fun day into a circus.
With homosexuals being able to serve this country openly, I think it’s past time for them to march in our parade openly. In fact, being an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran born and raised in South Boston, I would be proud to march alongside any veteran, no matter their skin color, religious beliefs, or sexuality. We should honor all veterans who fought for us; especially homosexuals, for, until recently, these brave men and women not only fought for our freedoms but had to hide their true identity to serve this country. If that isn’t true patriotism I don’t know what is.
Sincerely,
Sean Barrett
13 Comments
Comments are closed.
Instead of wearing “Kiss Me I’m Irish” shirts should we buy one that says “I’m heterosexual or homosexual?” The parade is not about sexuality. If you want to walk in a parade that is privately funded you have to follow their rules.
Plenty of gay people walk in this parade year after year and don’t feel the need to make their sexual oreintation known. I don’t walk down the street with a banner saying that I am straight. Who cares?
Valid points. However, why does your sexual orientation matter? Why do you need to come to a parade in your rainbow shirt and announce to the world if you like men or women? It’s a St. Patrick’s Day Parade. If we are all equal why are we still talking about this subject at all – on both sides of the table?
These groups like MASS EQUALITY perpetuate exactly what they are fighting against.
I think we should be working towards not labeling people. LGBT is doing the opposite of what so many people have worked for. Whether you are gay or not doesn’t matter. They were offered to march in the parade even after all of the trouble they have caused and they refused because they did not want to abide by the rules. End of story.
If you don’t care they are gay then why do you care about them saying they are? Stop dressing up your bigotry, you’re not fooling anyone.
I think if you “really” think that we have acheived equality.. you are sadly mistaken. Gay marriage is still not legal in all states… Don’t ask don’t tell was only recently lifted.. .gay people are discrimited against daily…and in some cases beaten or killed beciase of who they are, and it is groups like MASS EQUALITY, and public events like parades that help bring this conversation to the forefront. To not address it, and to not talk about it, or to be silient, would be doing a disservice.
… its actually ridiculous .. just saying
Why do all these fire departments that march in the parade have to broadcast that they are fire fighters, I don’t go around broadcasting that I work in an office. This is a saint patricks day parade not a fire parade why can’t they just march with out drawing attention to there proffession? lets ban all things not explicitly Irish from this parade and bring the focuse back on Irish culture.
Enough of this crap! Can’t take this PC crap any longer. There has always been a continual personal assault on South Boston. People love to hate us but yet everyone is moving here. Just wondering did the LGBT march in the Worcester parade this weekend? Love us or leave us….and stop calling us homophobes and bigots bcause that is not the case.
Sean, the person in the foxhole next to you was not a “Gay” soldier or Marine. They were simply a fellow soldier or Marine. Sexual preference had nothing to do with it. There were no black, white, latino, simply “Marine Green”. They are Veterans. I am not a Heterosexual Veteran, I am a Marine Veteran.
Being gay has nothing to do with marching in the parade either. Its about heritage and religion, not your sexual preference.
Did they beg to March in the Worcester parade last week or is it because this is a constant asssault on South Boston.