A boycott of three major beer brands has been called for over their support for gay rights in St Patrick’s Day parades.
The Catholic League’s Bill Donohue called for a boycott of Guinness, Heineken and Sam Adams.
This was after the first two brewers withdrew sponsorship of New York’s St Patrick’s Day parade .
Sam Adams decided not to sponsor the Boston parade.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender groups were allowed to participate in the parades.
But they were not allowed to carry banners or signs identifying themselves or their cause.
“The parade has one cause: honouring St Patrick,” Mr Donohue said.
“Those who disagree do not have to march – that’s what diversity is all about.”
He said concerns about diversity were misplaced.
He also called the New York parade “quintessentially Catholic”, noting that it starts with a Mass.
“I urge Catholics, and all those who believe in tolerance, diversity, and the First Amendment, to join with me in boycotting these brews,” he added.
Neither parade is organised by Catholic Church organisations.
The mayors of Boston and New York both boycotted the parades.
Mr Donohue said the beer companies, and the mayors, had been targeted by a “bullying campaign”.
In a statement, Guinness said it would continue to work with community leaders to ensure parades have an inclusive policy.
“Guinness has a strong history of supporting diversity and being an advocate for equality for all,” the statement continued.
“We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year’s parade. As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation,” the company added.
The Ford Motor Company did not withdraw its parade sponsorship.
The Prime Minister of Ireland Enda Kenny took part in the parades in Boston and New York.
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