New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio received praise from a number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates after he opted to march in Queens' St. Patrick's Day parade, which was all-inclusive, instead of its Manhattan counterpart.
As it turns out, de Blasio wasn't the only New York official to take a stance against Manhattan's St. Patrick's Day parade, which currently does not permit LGBT groups. Members of the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) of the New York Police Department (NYPD) who marched in the parade say they were joined in solidarity by uniformed veterans from the NYPD's American Legion, as well as the Guardians Association and the Police Square Club.
GOAL President Carl Locke called the support from the three fraternal NYPD groups "incredibly moving" in an email to The Huffington Post, noting that everyone was welcome to participate in the Queens St. Patrick's Day parade.
"Having our brothers and sisters in blue stand with us in solidarity shows just how much times have changed," he said. "I personally felt the meaning of 'we've got your back' and it feels nice."
He then added, "It's now time the organizers of Manhattan's St Patrick's Day parade...include the LGBT community."
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