Beer makers drop out of St. Patrick's parades that ban openly gay marchers
![A drummer plays during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York.: A drummer plays during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York.]({"default":"http://newsbcpcol.stb.s-msn.com/amnews/i/ca/6ded63c0cc407de48e32bded8fe/_h353_w628_m6_otrue_lfalse.jpg"})
Reuters
Sam Adams pulled out of Boston's parade, which takes place on Sunday, and Heineken yanked its support of the New York City parade, slated for Monday. Both parades are allowing gay groups to march but are banning signage about sexual orientation.
Sam Adams made the announcement after coming under pressure from Club Cafe, a Boston bar patronized by the gay community. The bar threatened in a Facebook post on Thursday to stop pouring Sam Adams "unless the company withdrew sponsorship. We were hopeful that both sides of this issue would be able to come to an agreement that would allow everyone, regardless of orientation, to participate in the parade," Jessica Paar, a spokeswoman for Boston Beer Company, which brews Sam Adams, said in a statement.
"But given the current status of the negotiations, we realize this may not be possible."
Gay rights activists praised Heineken's decision.
"Heineken sent the right message to LGBT youth, customers and employees who simply want to be part of the celebration," Sarah Kate Ellis, president of gay rights group GLAAD, said in a statement.
A Heineken representative told CNBC on Friday: "We believe in equality for all. We are no longer a sponsor of Monday's parade."
In February, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he would not be marching in this year's parade in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has vowed not to attend the parade unless LGBT groups are allowed to march openly.
(Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Mohammad Zargham)
5 comments:
What's next, pushing their messages on family focused Thanksgiving Day and the Rose Bowl Parades? Don't the Pride Parades provide enough PR?
Rather than faulting Samuel Adams and Heineken for pulling out, I congratulate them on their good sense in helping to keep the parade somewhat free of provocative 'sexual' messages. But, I fear the LGBT will find a way to hijack the parade to suit their own purpose leaving me to explain to my three children who these people are.
As for our fair Mayor - trading in his integrity for the homosexual votes.
Methodist - grew up SA
Boston
Agree with comment 1 totally.
Samuel Adams is a major advertiser and the media outlets with whom they contract have neutralised the LGBT demands- "Gay rights advocacy group MassEquality and organizers of the South Boston parade, the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, have been embroiled in talks attempting to broker a deal to allow 20 LGBT veterans to march. A 1995 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that the council could include or exclude groups at its discretion."
The march is a tribute to all veterans without discrimination and there should be no promotion of self interest groups.
London
I too agree with comment one- I support equality but in this case, as is the case, increasingly, the gays are in our face again. In short, these type anti-campaign will backfire.
As a Transsexual can I expect to have the same rights to become an active soldier, member, leader or officer if my LGBT friends are granted excepted?
USA - Chicago
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