Sponsers remove themselves from St. Patty parade

[Foxaèr]

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations kicked off across the country this morning, but New York City’s festivities went ahead with the notable absence of iconic Irish beer maker Guinness, which withdrew its sponsorship from the parade.

Controversy has swirled around this year’s Irish holiday festivities in the Northeast, where a number of key sponsors have opted out after organizers barred LGBT participants from openly marching and carrying pro-gay signs.

Guinness, which had been the last remaining major beer sponsor to hold out, announced this weekend that it was pulling out of its sponsorship deal, saying:

“Guinness has a strong history of supporting diversity and being an advocate for equality for all. 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 As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation. We will continue to work with community leaders to ensure that future parades have an inclusionary policy.”

The move came after Boston Beer Co., which owns the Sam Adams brand, cut ties with the Boston parade and Heineken announced Friday it would also withdraw support.

Political tensions have been building in New York since Mayor Bill de Blasio chose to become the first mayor in decades to shun the parade over gay rights issues, while Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh declared he would not partake in his city's Irish day celebrations Sunday for the same reason.

The decision by the companies to withdraw participation from the parades drew strong support from gay rights advocacy groups including New York City-based organization Irish Queers and GLAAD.

"Guinness sent a strong message to its customers and employees: discrimination should never be celebrated," GLAAD CEO & President Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement Sunday. "As a gay mom who has fond memories of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, it saddens me that I can't give those same memories to my own kids because my family isn't welcome.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/parades-march-g...d=22939451