St. Patrick’s Day Parade organizers have allowed an LGBT group from NBC Universal to march with in the 2015 parade.
A LGBT group from NBC Universal will become the first gay group to openly march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee said Wednesday they approved OUT@NBCUniversal’s application to walk in the March 17 parade with their banner.
The group tweeted “We are proud to be the 1st #LGBT group to march in NY St. Patrick Day parade” on Wednesday morning.
NBC broadcasts the parade.
The parade has been a city tradition since 1762, and draws hundreds of thousands of participants to Fifth Avenue.
“This is a welcome first step and a good day for New Yorkers who believe in fairness, equality and human rights,” Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said. “For far too long the St. Patrick’s Day Parade excluded New Yorkers just because of who they to love. I am happy organizers finally realized that this parade is better when all are invited.”
Earlier this year, Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Council did not march in the parade, which has historically excluded openly gay groups from marching. Gays were invited to march in the past, but were supposed to participate with other groups, and not display their own banner.
Other LGBT groups will be allowed to apply to march in future parades, organizers said in a statement released to the Associated Press.
