Charges against gays dismissed

By Patrick Markey

A New York court judge has dismissed charges filed against a group of gay activists arrested during a protest at their exclusion from a Bronx St. Patrick’s Day parade last year, according to one of the group’s representatives.

The group, the Lavender and Green Alliance, had organized a protest at the Throgg’s Neck parade after they were initially given permission to participate. Parade organizers later refused the group permission to march.

Six members were arrested as they tried to gain access to the parade. They were charged with disorderly conduct, but all the cases were dismissed last week, said alliance founder Brendan Fay.

The alliance and another gay rights group, the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization have been protesting against their exclusion from city St. Patrick’s Day parades since the early 1990s. ILGO has organized annual civil disobedience protests at the start of the New York St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Fay said his group is continuing to try and establish dialogue within the Irish community to get an inclusive march for next year’s parade.