GLAAD will join LGBT advocates at the legendary Stonewall Inn on St. Patrick's Day to dump Guinness beer from Stonewall's shelves in protest of Guinness' sponsorship of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. The parade, which is the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day celebration in the country, prohibits LGBT families and organizations from participating.
"The ban on gay and lesbian people marching openly forces me, as a proud Irish New Yorker, to look my five year-old twins in the eye and tell them that the parade organizers don't think our family is good enough to join in the celebration," said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.
"By supporting the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, Guinness is telling its LGBT customers and employees that it supports the parade's discriminatory ban," Ellis continued. "It's time for Guinness, other sponsors and Irish New Yorkers to speak out in favor of an inclusive parade that welcomes the Irish spirit of love and family."
On Friday, after GLAAD reached out to sponsors of the parade, Heineken dropped its sponsorship, saying that the company is "passionate about equality for all people." Also on Friday, Sam Adams announced that it, too, would drop its sponsorship of the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade, which also bans LGBT people from taking part.
Guinness has not responded to email requests for comment.
Join us in a stand for equality!
Monday, March 17, 2014 - 1pm ET
Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher Street (at 7th Avenue)
Media interested in attending should contact Seth Adam at seth@glaad.org