A gay rights group will be allowed to march in Boston’s St Patrick’s Day parade in the United States.
But it is unclear whether MassEquality will be allowed to carry signs or use slogans.
Initially, one of the lead organisers of the parade, the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, denied MassEquality permission to join the parade.
The latter had been trying for four years to get permission to join.
But this year the decision was reversed after political pressure, shifting a stance that has lasted for 20 years.
Boston’s mayor Martin Walsh had threatened to boycott the parade over the exclusion.
He then attempted to broker a solution.
The Catholic Action League condemned the decision to allow the gay rights group into the parade.
It called on organisers to remove the name “St Patrick” from the parade, as it now has no meaningful connection to the Catholic saint.
The league, which operates separately from the Archdiocese of Boston, said “Catholic organisations should refuse to participate in a parade that hosts a group which demonises Catholic moral teachings as bigotry, hatred and prejudice”.
“This decision is a milestone defeat for religious freedom, moral sanity, and what very little remains of Boston’s once Catholic identity.
“As for the Archdiocese of Boston, its silence was as shameful as it was predictable,” the league said in a statement.
MassEquality group director Karen Coredini said “that there is a conversation happening around allowing openly LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) people to march in this parade is historic”.
The parade celebrates Boston’s Irish heritage and honours war veterans.
Parade organisers said MassEquality helps LGBT veterans.
Sources
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