Rainbow Flag At Center Of Dispute Between St. Patrick's Day Parade Organizers, OutVets
BOSTON (CBS) - A late afternoon meeting between organizers of South Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade and the organization OutVets produced no resolution on whether the gay rights organization will be allowed to march. Parade organizers say there will be an emergency meeting of the council on Friday to take a new vote to permit the group to march.
OutVets got late notice Tuesday night that their application was denied by the South Boston Allied Veterans Council. Originally it appeared to be a dispute over whether the application was late. Now the council says the rainbow flag that OutVets marches with is an "outward symbol of sexuality" and in violation of their rules.
The group has been allowed to march for the last two years and now OutVets founder Bryan Bishop calls it "outrageous and disgusting."
Mayor Walsh believes issue will be resolved over gay vets not being allowed to march in st Patrick's day parade #wbz
— Beth Germano (@BethWBZ) March 8, 2017
"This is a travesty I thought we had moved past this, beyond bigotry and discrimination," said Bishop.
Legal battles have long surrounded the parade. Back in 1995 the council won a U.S. Supreme Court decision to exclude gay organizations on free speech grounds. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says he'll now boycott the parade unless the decision is reversed joining a long list of politicians who are bowing out including Governor Charlie Baker and Congressman Seth Moulton.
"It's discrimination, we shouldn't be having this conversation anymore," said Walsh.
"Nobody in South Boston has said to me, 'We don't want gay people marching'": @marty_walsh on myTV38/@WBZNightside re: Southie Parade. #WBZ pic.twitter.com/S0apFcym6P
— Liam Martin (@LiamWBZ) March 9, 2017
Now even parade grand marshal Dan Magoon, an Army veteran, says he'll bow out and might not change his mind even if the decision is reversed, to send a message. "Right now it's turning away a lot of veterans and turning away our military," he said. "Can't do that if that's what this parade is all about."
Ed Flynn, a member of the council, says he voted to allow OutVets to participate. The Navy veteran says he is "saddened and outraged" that the council "voted to turn back the clock on equality."
OutVets says if they march, they march with the rainbow flag.
Late Wednesday, Stop & Shop said they would no longer be a sponsor for the parade. "The men and women from OutVets, who have bravely served our country, deserve our respect and to be included," said Phil Tracey, a spokesman for the supermarket chain.
I won't be marching in St. Patrick's Parade #weareboston we include not exclude our citizens. https://t.co/QUKMBnHgEC
— Tito Jackson (@titojackson) March 8, 2017
Deeply disappointed in the decision by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council to exclude @OUTVETS in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade. pic.twitter.com/6awDbGBVCH
— Linda Dorcena Forry (@ldforry) March 8, 2017
I've never marched in the Southie StPatricksDay parade, and as long as the current leadership organizes this event I never will. #bospoli
— Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@wutrain) March 8, 2017
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports