Many Irish eyes were smiling during the 17th annual St. Pat’s for All Parade through Queens neighborhoods of Sunnyside and Woodside on Sunday afternoon.
The first parade took place in 2000 as an alternate to the Manhattan St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which barred organizations representing the Irish LGBT community from marching under their own banners. Since that time, the St. Pat’s for All Parade organizers have welcomed LGBT groups and other organizations wishing to take part in an early celebration of the feast day of Ireland’s patron saint.
Leading the way at this year’s St. Pat’s for All parade were grand marshals Loretta Brennan Glucksman, who is active with a number of nonprofit groups promoting Irish heritage, and Column McCann, an award-winning author from Dublin, Ireland.
They were followed through the streets by a multitude of elected officials including Mayor Bill de Blasio and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. De Blasio, who had marched in last year’s parade amid his boycott the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan, announced last week he would take part in this year’s Manhattan parade on March 17 after organizers permitted an Irish LGBT group to march under its banner.
Numerous LGBT organizations as well as pipe and drum bands, school organizations and other community groups participated in Sunday’s march. Check out the pictures below.
