16 THE QUEENS COURIER • MARCH 10, 2022 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
St. Pat’s for All parade celebrates
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Th e luck of the Irish was on the side of St.
Pat’s for All revelers as the rain stopped just
in time for the parade to kick off around 1
p.m. in Sunnyside on March 6, 2022.
Last year, the parade, which has been a
beacon of inclusiveness and a celebration
of Queens’ diversity since its inception
more than 20 years ago, was held virtually
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Th is year,
with many COVID restrictions lift ed, the
second-largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in
New York City showed that the city, along
with its energy, is bouncing back.
If one needed proof, all they had to do
was look at the many beaming “naked”
smiles, which masks had hidden for two
long years.
Queens native and Councilwoman Tiffany
Cabán was excited to see the “beautiful
celebration of the intersection of so
many diff erent identities.”
“I love it,” Cabán said. “As a queer person
myself, being able to be in community and
see so many people who are part of our
community but also neighbors, supporting,
being allies. Th is is great.”
She referred to the parade as an act of
resistance rooted in love and the community
and that it stood in contrast to
the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade,
which once again had excluded LGBTQ+
organizations from participating.
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards pointed out that Queens, one
of the hardest-hit boroughs during the
pandemic, represents 190 countries and
that the parade was a true testament to the
borough’s diversity and the love Queens
has for the LGBTQ+ community.
“Queens is back,” Richards proudly
declared. “It feels good to be here, celebrating
our inclusiveness, unlike some other
boroughs.”
His message to the St. Patrick’s Day
organizers of the “forgotten” borough
was clear.
“It’s 2022. Get with the program. Stop
The brother of the late Tarlach Mac Niallais, Councilwoman Julie Won, NY AG Tish James and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney march in the St. Pat’s for
All Parade in Sunnyside on March 6, 2022.
with the divisiveness. It is 2022,” Richards
said. “It was never right before in any other
year either, but to not include the LGBTQ+
community in a parade is disgraceful. And
they need to get with the program. Th is is
New York City.”
Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas
recalled that the last time they marched
was in 2020, shortly before the COVID-19
pandemic broke out, and she was “thrilled”
that the event was back. She also emphasized
that there was no place for hate in
New York City and pointed out the historical
aspect of the St. Pat’s for All Parade.
“I’m proud to be part of Queens, that we
created the fi rst-ever inclusive St. Pat’s for
All parade,” González-Rojas said. “And as
things have changed gradually, it’s a sign
of the times, but this is really unfortunate
that they are still excluding the LGBT
community.”
Councilman Keith Powers, who
is Irish American and heads the
Irish Caucus in the City Council,
said that St. Pat’s for All was symbolic
for its inclusiveness.
“One, this community
was a large
Irish community
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
The brothers of the late LGBT activist Tarlach Mac Niallais pay tribute to his
legacy before the parade.
where my family lived when they came here
to New York City, so it’s good to be here in a
place that has a long Irish tradition,” Powers
said. “And also, this parade has been
symbolic for its inclusivity throughout its
time here and really at a moment where
we need it to embrace and show every New
Yorker they can be part of our community.
Th is parade served as that sign.”
He said he was still speechless that
a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York
City didn’t embrace all New Yorkers,
especially since the Irish American
community has a strong and vibrant
LGBTQ+ population.
“It is disappointing to see that the Staten
Island parade still wants to shut out New
Yorkers and deny them that they are part
of the Irish American community. It’s
ridiculous,” Powers said.
Before the parade went underway,
speakers paid tribute to the late LGBTQ+
activist Tarlach Mac Niallais, who died of
COVID-19 on April 1, 2020, at 57.
Mac Niallais emigrated to New York City
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (second from right) poses for a photo with activists
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