After forced to accommodate them in the last two years, organizers of the Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade finally had the courage to stand against the political pressure and do what is right all along. They exclude a gay veterans' group that many of the sponsors and organizers have long abhorred and detested.
The organizers of the parade, the largest marking St. Patrick's Day in the country, believed that any gay group is in conflict with their Roman Catholic heritage. They only backed down in 2015 in the face of intense pressure from the administration of former President Barrack Obama.
With the Republicans back in power and President Donald Trump calling the shots, everything in the Parade is back to normal as it was intended all along.
OUTVETS, which has marched in Boston's parade for the past two years, said it had not been told why its permit had been denied this year. However, nobody is required to tell them anything. The organizers can deny whoever they want and nobody can compel them to explain their decision.
The group said in a post in Facebook that "while the reason for our denial is unclear, one can only assume it's because we are LGBTQ," using a common acronym for gay, lesbian and transgender people. This is a free country and they can assume whatever they want.
Officials with the South Boston Allied War Council, which organizes the 116-year-old event, did not immediately respond to a request for comment because, just like the organizers of the Parade, they are not compelled to reply at all.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who boycotted the event during the time that gays were excluded, said he would not march if the group was not included.
People of Boston has one reply to the Mayor: "We don't care."
The organizers of the parade, the largest marking St. Patrick's Day in the country, believed that any gay group is in conflict with their Roman Catholic heritage. They only backed down in 2015 in the face of intense pressure from the administration of former President Barrack Obama.
With the Republicans back in power and President Donald Trump calling the shots, everything in the Parade is back to normal as it was intended all along.
OUTVETS, which has marched in Boston's parade for the past two years, said it had not been told why its permit had been denied this year. However, nobody is required to tell them anything. The organizers can deny whoever they want and nobody can compel them to explain their decision.
The group said in a post in Facebook that "while the reason for our denial is unclear, one can only assume it's because we are LGBTQ," using a common acronym for gay, lesbian and transgender people. This is a free country and they can assume whatever they want.
Officials with the South Boston Allied War Council, which organizes the 116-year-old event, did not immediately respond to a request for comment because, just like the organizers of the Parade, they are not compelled to reply at all.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who boycotted the event during the time that gays were excluded, said he would not march if the group was not included.
People of Boston has one reply to the Mayor: "We don't care."