➤ ST. PAT’S FOR ALL, from p.9
mia. Abigail has formed “Hannah’s
Heroes,” a group that advocates
for funding for research and treatment.
She urged the crowd to join
her, earning one of the day’s loudest
rounds of applause.
Along with Johnson, two other
likely candidates for mayor next
year were present: City Comptroller
Scott Stringer and Brooklyn
Borough President Eric Adams.
Adams noted that one in six people
in Ireland today are immigrants,
comparing that to New York’s immigrant
communities.
Queens District Attorney Melinda
Katz, who previously marched
as a councilmember and borough
president, talked about her offi ce’s
commitment to combating hate
crimes, including violence against
transgender people.
The special election to replace
Katz as borough president takes
place on March 24, and early voting
starts soon. The three major
candidates marched: City Councilmember
Costa Constantinides
of Astoria and former City Councilmember
Elizabeth Crowley
of Woodside each led their own
contingents. Southeast Queens
Councilmember Donovan Richards
marched with other members
of the Council, including Helen
Rosenthal and Carlina Rivera of
Manhattan and Barry Grodenchik
of Queens.
In addition to Gianaris and
Simotas, other state legislators
from Queens on hand included
Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymembers
Catherine Nolan,
Catalina Cruz, David Weprin, and
Brian Barnwell.
The parade kicked off with the
sound of bagpipes from the FDNY
Emerald Society Pipe Band, and
the offi cial banner was hoist by
the founders, grand marshals, and
other special guests, followed by
the Lavender and Green Alliance,
the group of LGBTQ Irish and
friends who were fi nally permitted
to march in the Manhattan St.
Patrick’s Day Parade in 2016.
Since its founding, the parade
has also drawn demonstrators
who bring signs protesting “A
Sacrilegious Gay and Lesbian Parade”
and decrying “Sodom and
Gomorrah.” For years, the number
had been dwindling, but this
year nearly a dozen of them turned
DONNA ACETO
The smallest member of the McManus Irish
Dance troupe.
DONNA ACETO
The smartest outfi t of the entire day.
up, appropriately enough, on the
shady side of the street.
“I think they are picking up on a
mood and spirit that’s like a poison
affecting the heart,” said Fay. “And,
as always, our response is love and
inclusion and hospitality.”
When the pre-parade speeches
ended, musicians replaced politicians
on the fl atbed truck, and
Irish bodhran player Brian Fleming,
who comes to New York from
Dublin each year to coordinate
both the parade music and the
benefi t concert the Friday night
before, led a band that whirled
through traditional and contemporary
tunes.
As the parade wound down, the
County Cork Pipes & Drums kept
playing as they marched into Donovan’s
Pub on Roosevelt Avenue.
DONNA ACETO
Sara Murphy and Johanna Flores from Hour Children, recognized as a parade grand marshal, with
Brendan Fay.
DONNA ACETO
Grand marshal Mick Moloney (right) and longtime St. Pat’s For All supporter Brian Fleming perform at
the parade’s benefi t concert on February 28.
DONNA ACETO
Irish-American writer Malachy McCourt was accompanied to the parade by several of his grandchildren,
including Ian, a young transgender musician whose cheeks are painted with the colors of the
Transgender Flag
DONNA ACETO
The County Cork Pipes & Drums, who kept playing all the way into Donovan’s Pub at the parade’s
conclusion.
March 12 - March 25, 2 10 020 | GayCityNews.com
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