Drogheda was well represented at the 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City by the well-known gay rights activist and filmmaker Brendan Fay who founded the Irish LGBT group Lavender and Green Alliance in the city.
“These are challenging time for the LGBT community and so the spirit of hospitality extended by parade organisers is important for our community” Fay said. “Hundreds of pieces of anti LGBT legislation are being passed and our loves and lives are being debated here in the US and across the world.”
“I learned a long time ago at the Augustinians in Drogheda that while it’s good to pray for peace and justice on Sunday we have to rise up and make a difference in the world.
“For me that means working to make our Churches, schools, factories, communities and cultural parades spaces of welcome for all.
“A huge moment for me was being welcomed back to Drogheda as Grand Marshall of the 2017 St. Patrick’s parade. I tell the story with affection for Drogheda when I speak at schools and communities….”
Joining Fay and his husband Tom Moulton at the banner were veterans of the LGBT civil rights movement including Randy Wicker and Andy Humm. Other long-time supporters of Lavender and Green Alliance included Lisa Fane, Danny Dromm as well as Mychal McNicholas and his wife Barbara Flynn.
Honouring the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday agreement, Lavender and Green Alliance welcomed Patricia Lewsley, two term Commissioner for Children and Young People from 2007 -2015 who led the women’s cross community delegation from the Belfast based “Training for Women’s Network” (TWN).
As a political leader and community organiser, Patricia Lewsley has been a much-respected advocate of equal rights for women, the LGBT community and people with disabilities in Northern Ireland.
As they prepared to step off on the parade, Fay and others recalled 30 years ago in March 1993 when he and over 200 Irish LGBT persons and friends were arrested beginning a long road of struggle and breakthrough to inclusion in the NYC St. Patrick’s day parade.
The group cheered when welcomed onto 5th Avenue by the parade formation leaders who recalled Tarlach MacNiallais (1962-2020) a leading Irish LGBT activist and NYC parade committee member.
At the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral members of the group including Fay and Malachy McCourt were greeted by Bishop Edmund Whalen and Fay expressed gratitude for Pope Francis who has urged Church leaders to treat the LGBT community with compassion, welcome and respect.
Along 5th Avenue onlookers cheered when they saw the banner and Malachy McCourt in his wheelchair. The group sang ” When Irish eyes are smiling – all the world is bright and GAY and joined McCourt as he sang “Wilde Mountain Thyme.”
“Love your LGBT children, family and neighbours” Fay shouted to the crowds, “Lets open our Irish hearts in welcome for all.”
Irish-American actor, writer, one-time pub owner, and politician, Malachy McCourt, with Brendan Fay and other members of the Lavender and Green Alliance at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York last week. Photo: Thomas Moulton.
Just past the reviewing stand, members of the Rygor family of Astoria waved and roared. Brendan Fay is producing a new documentary on the AIDS activist Robert Rygor (1953-1994) and his parents Stanley (1926-2019) and Kathleen (1929-2021) who were advocates for the Irish LGBT community in New York.
For years before they died Stanley, a much beloved Irish musician, and Kathleen visited Brendan’s parents Peter and Mary Fay at their Scarlet Street home. They also stayed with his sister Carmel O’Brien and her husband PJ in Termonfeckin.
At the end of the New York parade all gathered around 91 year old renowned actor, writer and radio host Malachy McCourt singing – ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow and so sing all of us!” There were a few tears of farewell and joy as everyone hugged Malachy, Patricia Lewsley and the women from Belfast.
“We know too well how we got from there to here and the journey from closets of shame and silence to inclusion, equality, and visibility” Fay said.
“We continue to rise, speak up, sing and march not just for ourselves but also for young LGBT persons who are coming out and finding a place of belonging and in solidarity and hope for LGBTQ communities across the world.
We thank the people of good heart and passionate activism who, on St. Patrick’s Day, made the road of Irish hospitality rise for the Irish LGBT community in New York!
