The Irish of Staten Island will march in one parade on 17 March 2025 after a long-running dispute about the inclusion of a Pride Center contingent was resolved.
In a story broken by the Staten Island Advance website today (Tuesday), it was revealed that the new committee, installed last October to oversee the traditional parade, had lifted the ban on participation by a local Pride group.
Dogged opposition by the outgoing committee to the inclusion of the Pride marchers had sparked the formation of a second and newer Inclusive St Patrick's Day Parade on the island - which quickly won the support of local merchants and politicians.
“It is not lost on the parade committee how controversial this event has become,” said the new leadership of the traditional Richmond County St Patrick's Day Parade Committee in a written statement. “The end to this controversy is to the benefit of the committee, the Pride Center, and the greater Staten Island community."
The statement added: “The Committee wishes to announce that the Staten Island Pride Center has been invited to march, under their own banner, in the 2025 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.
“The parade committee is entrusted with ensuring the focus of the parade remains upon Saint Patrick, the history, traditions, culture and faith of the Irish people. In this endeavor, the leadership of The Pride Center has assured the parade committee that they are ready to provide support to the parade in fulfilling this obligation."
‘Horrible and not right.’ — The LGBTQ+ Pride Center of Staten Island has been banned from the borough’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade since 2011, but now they’re rallying back pic.twitter.com/vmxyUBdKeO
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) March 9, 2019
According to Staten Island Advance, the Pride group immediately accepted the invitation.
"The Pride Center, headed up by Executive Director Carol Bullock, has fought and rallied in recent years after the group — along with several other LGBTQ+ groups — was continuously denied the right to march in the parade. 'We are truly honored to be invited to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This event is a time-honored tradition that brings people together from all walks of life to celebrate Irish culture, and we are excited to be part of this vibrant community celebration,' said Bullock."
Former State Assemblyman Mike Cusick, who was singled for praise by the new parade leadership for his contribution to the resolution of the dispute, gave the latest news the thumbs-up. "This is a great day for the Irish of Staten Island," he told the Irish Echo. "We are all happy now that we are able to celebrate St Patrick's Day with one parade." RESOLUTION: Mike Cusick (right) with the former Lord Mayor of Belfast Tina Black and members of Ladies' AOH at Staten Island Irish baseball day in 2022.
