Just hours before the start of New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade today, Guinness brewery announced that it is pulling its sponsorship of the event. The move came in response to organizers, who have refused to let gays and lesbians march.
In a statement to GLAAD, the pro-LGBT activist group, Guinness explained that the company “has a strong history of supporting diversity and being an advocate for equality for all.”
Guinness added, “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 As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation.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 most famous brewery in Ireland is not the only company to withdraw its support. The New York Daily News notes that Heineken has done so as well. Newly-elected Mayor Bill de Blasio has also refused to march.
The situation in New york mirrors what happened in Boston shortly before its parade on Sunday. The organizers of that parade also barred gays and lesbians from marching and Sam Adams pulled its sponsorship of the event. Mayor Martin Walsh also refused to march. According to the Boston Herald, a “diversity float” was included though. It featured fake cannons with rainbow-colored projectiles.
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