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 As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation," the company added.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.

Sources:

• The Tablet
• Huffington Post
• Image: Food Republic

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

• Reuters
• Boston Globe
• LisaGraas.com
• Image: SouthBostontoday