FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 10, 2022 • THE QUEENS COURIER 17
Irish heritage and LGBTQ+ pride
Two young girls show their Irish pride at the
parade.
from Ireland in the 1980s. Th e LGBTQ+
and disability rights activist campaigned
tirelessly to allow LGBTQ+ organizations
to march under their own banners in the
New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
His two brothers recalled that he became
politically active while growing up
in Belfast and described him as warm and
intelligent.
“His legacy will live on as long as we do,”
one of his brothers declared.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer remembered
that he was at the parade in 2020,
the last time Tarlach Mac Niallais marched
in the parade.
“It was an amazing day,” Schumer said.
“And we do remember those who were lost
in COVID. Far too many, many more
who are mourning those who are lost.
Every one of us can fi t into that category,
unfortunately.”
Schumer also called on the crowd
to think of and pray for the “brave
Ukrainian people who are fi ghting
the good fi ght.”
He said he had spoken to
Ukrainian President
Zelenskyy, who told
him he needed
airplanes.
En
“I am putting pressure on
our administration and working with our
administration to get them the planes they
need,” Schumer said. “Because they cannot
allow the massacre of their people to
continue.”
Along the parade route, which stretched
from 43rd Street and Skillman Avenue to
58th Street and Woodside Avenue, many
paradegoers — decked out in
emerald
green, waving Irish and LGBT fl ags —
cheered on the many marching bands,
Irish groups and LGBTQ+ organizations
like the Lavender and Green Alliance.
Jay Walker, a co-founder of Gays Against
Guns, was excited to participate in St. Pat’s
for All and glad that the weather had held up.
“I expect to see just tons of queer people
and our allies. And just fabulous New
Yorkers being together,” Walker said.
When asked about the fact that Staten
Island’s St. Patrick’s Day parade once
again nixed the participation of LGBTQ+
organizations, he laughed and said, “It’s
Staten Island. It’s exactly what I’d expect
from Staten Island.”
Families line the street celebrating their Irish roots.
Enjoying the celebration.
some tunes on his fi ddle.
The view
looks better
from up top!
brave
pres
w
pla
they
pe
s
A
Avenu
LGBT
marchin
organ
A young man plays some Celtic tunes on his fififiddle.
/WWW.QNS.COM
