Mayor Bill De Blasio Hasn't Decided If He'll March In 5th Avenue St. Patrick's Day Parade
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio is still deciding whether to march in the nation's biggest and oldest St. Patrick's Day parade.
The Associated Press is reporting that de Blasio will not march in this year's parade. However, CBS New York has been informed by the mayor's office that he has not made a final decision.
De Blasio skipped the Manhattan parade last year, his first as mayor, because its organizers banned displays of gay pride.
This year, one group is permitted to carry an LGBT-themed banner in the March 17 parade up Fifth Avenue.
"Look, we're still waiting for more information from the parade organizers," de Blasio said while marching in an inclusive St. Patrick's parade in Queens on Sunday. "At this moment, obviously, I've said I'm not ready to commit to marching because all we've heard is that one delegation, related to NBC, will be allowed to have members of the LGBT community in it.
"A lot of people feel -- I think, rightfully -- that that is too small a change to merit a lot of us participating. We would have wanted to see an inclusive parade. Here's an example of a parade that's inclusive of all, that celebrates Irish heritage in a way that everyone can be a part of. I hope for some more progress with the parade in Manhattan. But there's still time, and we look forward to, you know, some additional discussion, and, certainly, I welcome any discussions with anyone who wants to try and make it more inclusive."
Some gay rights activists have called the parade's invitation to OUT@NBCUniversal — a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender support group at the company that broadcasts the parade — a publicity stunt aimed at bringing back its sponsors.
De Blasio, a Democrat, became the first mayor in 20 years to skip the Manhattan march.
A number of other elected officials have said they plan to boycott the parade.
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