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At last, a place in St. Patrick’s Day parade
After decades of protest, gay contingent welcomed into NYC tradition
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at the St. Pat’s for All Parade on March 6 in New York. Brendan Fay, founder of the Lavender & Green Alliance, is in the rainbow scarf. The mayor boycotted the St. Patrick’s Day Parade the last two years for its LGBT exclusion but will go this year. (Photo by Jon Nalley)
The official word announcing that the board of directors of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a non-profit that runs the annual New York City event every March 17, had invited the LGBT group the Lavender & Green Alliance to the event is a bare-bones statement indicating nothing of the decades of effort that led to the change of heart.
“Since 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the birth of Irish Independence, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 17 is a special opportunity for renewed commitment to Irish values and tradition and the Irish role in the 21st century,” board chair John Lahey said in a press release.
Brendan Fay, founder and chair of the Lavender & Green Alliance, which has held its own St. Pat’s For All Parade annually in Queens since 2000, was granted a quote in the release.
“We celebrate the welcome,” he said. “March 17, 2016 will be a great day for hospitality and inclusion.”
There were signs that change was imminent. At last year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Out@NBC, a gay employee group at the affiliate WNBC-TV 4, which broadcasts the event locally, was the first out group welcomed into the parade although unlike Lavender & Green, they weren’t particularly Irish. Some Alliance members viewed the NBC group’s inclusion while their own was left out, a slap in the face.
The ongoing rancor had led to significant tension. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio this year announced the end of a two-year boycott of the 253-year-old event, the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country. He marched in and spoke at Sunday’s St. Pat’s for All Parade.
“The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a New York City tradition but for years, Irish LGBT New Yorkers could not show their pride,” he told the Associated Press in a March 2 story. “Finally they can celebrate their heritage by marching in a parade that now represents progress and equality.”
The parade, held rain or shine, begins on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and ends on Fifth Avenue uptown at 79th Street. It typically runs from about 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. About 200,000 people are in the parade each year. About 300 are expected to march under the Alliance banner.
So why now? Fay told the AP de Blasio’s boycott had an effect. He was the first mayor in more than 20 years to refuse to participate,” the Associated Press reports.
Fay told the Blade there “were many factors bringing us to this historic moment,” and cites boycotts by other elected officials, some of which go back 25 years, pressure from the New York City Council, letters of support from straight Irish New Yorkers, pressure from beer companies like Guinness and Heineken that threatened to pull out and more.
“It was the persistent determination of activism of a determined and hope-filled community,” Fay says. “Not just the LGBT community, but the Irish community as a whole.”
So why was it such a big deal? And in New York City, of all places?
The controversy ties in deeply with the parade’s Catholic roots. First held in 1762, the parade marches up Fifth Avenue and is reviewed from the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In the mid 1800s, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), an Irish-Catholic fraternal organization, became the official sponsor of the parade. Although in 1992, the National AOH directed all its chapters to form separate corporations to run their various parades, the parade’s roots in the Roman Catholic Church — Ireland was essentially a pawn in the Protestant Reformation battles between Italy and England — are strong and deep.
Although the St. Pat’s for All Parade has developed into its own thing and will continue (there were about 100 contingents in the March 6 event), Fay says the significance of the Alliance’s inclusion in the official parade cannot be overstated.
“History will be made for the first time on March 17,” he says. “We’ll be carrying the green Alliance banner and we’re all really feeling the moment. There’s so much joy in the Irish community of New York City and back home in Ireland as well.”
Dignity New York, an LGBT Catholic group that’s the local chapter of DignityUSA, members — of which Fay is one — have been watching this drama unfold for years. They say it just took time for the strong opposition to play out.
“Brendan is much more well versed in the politics of this and all the ins and outs … but I think gradually, you know, the people who wanted the group to march finally won out and I think it was a matter of attrition,” says Jeff Stone, a spokesperson for Dignity New York. “Eventually the older, more conservative members who were against it either left or died or whatever and I understand that Barbara Jones, the consul general of Ireland in New York, tried to urge the committee to let them march. That’s also in line with what’s happening in Ireland, especially now with the pro-same-sex marriage vote. The people of that country have clearly spoken.”
Despite studies that show disparities on all kinds of issues between official Catholic Church teaching and the laity, the anti-gay theology is well documented. As just one example, earlier this month the AOH issued a press release calling for Disney/ABC to “immediately apologize” for its new gay-themed sitcom “The Real O’Neals.” Although careful not to slam gays, it cites Irish stereotypes, anti-Catholicism and gay activist/writer Dan Savage, the show’s executive producer, in a scathing assessment.
“Dan Savage has a well-documented hostility to the Catholic Church,” the statement says. “(We) question the wisdom and motivations of Disney/ABC giving him a national platform to perpetuate his intolerance.”
Stone says movement on same-sex marriage, both in Ireland and the U.S., welcoming gays into the parade, the use of more inclusive language among Catholic leaders and more are all aspects to the policy change. He also says the tide has shifted enough that there were economic considerations as well.
“It’s just not a good situation for them when there’s all this bitterness and controversy surrounding the parade,” he says. “It’s counter to the law in Ireland, it’s not good for tourism. I think they wanted to get this resolved so that the parade could return to being a symbol of celebration and of Irish-American pride and not a source of division and bitterness that it had become for many people. The parade lost a lot of sponsors over this.”
Fay says the change makes a powerful statement.
“I think it’s conveying a message about equality and what I call cultural hospitality,” he says. “There’s an overall feeling of excitement and just really great and joyful expectation. … I’ve really come to appreciate how important cultural gatherings and parades are in our lives and communities.”
Brendan Fay, in the rainbow scarf, on March 6 at the St. Pat’s for All Parade in Queens, New York, with Lavender & Green members and allies. He says the counter parade will continue as it’s developed into its own event over 17 years. (Photo courtesy the Alliance)
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Summer in D.C. brings sports, Restaurant Week, festivals, and more
Summer in D.C. just hits different. Congress is out, school is out, the sun is out, thighs are out. With the skies clearing from Canadian smoke, here are a few ways to stay entertained.
Dining
Summer restaurant week: The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is once again hosting Summer Restaurant Week, Aug. 18-24. This weeklong dining experience showcases the dynamic dining scene of the DMV, including 2026 RAMMY Award-winning favorites (the annual D.C. food awards show that took place June 29). Participating restaurants will offer three-course brunch and lunch selections for $25 or $35 per person, and three-course dinners for $40, $55 and $65 per person.
New Restaurants: A handful of new spots have opened, so the summer is a great time to check them out:
- Oribu: A new Mediterranean-Japanese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt hotel, which just underwent a remodeling effort. The sleek restaurant brings upscale charm, with dishes like Wagyu beef tartare with potato pavé and caviar.
- The Oak Room: A snazzy old-school American grill has just opened in Georgetown, alongside its sister upstairs supper club (Bernadette’s) restaurant, in the old El Centro space.
- Uchi: This showy Japanese sushi-forward chain has landed in Dupont with a chef’s tasting menu of favorites like fatty tuna.
- Kathmandu: Recalling the capital of Nepal, this warm, buzzy subterranean restaurant right in the heart of U Street brings spice, flair, and rare ingredients to its dishes (see: buffalo burgers) and drinks.
Sports
- Washington Spirit Pride Night OUT: On Sunday, Aug. 23, head to Audi Field for a massive, high-energy game following the exciting month of World Cup. The designated Pride Night OUT game promises boisterous crowds plus pre- and post-game community engagements.
- Washington Tennis Open – Now called the Mubadala DC Open, this annual tournament is only combined mens’ and womens’ 500-level tennis tournament in the world. The open is one of D.C.’s longest-standing sports traditions, and will take place at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center July 25-Aug. 2. Naomi Osaka, Venus Williams, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and others are expected to play.
Festivals
- Afro Plus Fest: This huge, three-day Afro-Caribbean Hip-Hop Festival brings together headliners Davido, Alkaline, and Wizkid, plus Tems and Ayra Starr. The event moves from RFK to the Northwest Stadium Complex for three days, Sept. 4-6.
- Capital Fringe Festival: Running from July 11-21, this massive celebration features dozens of live theater, comedy, dance, and boundary-pushing nighttime performances across multiple DC neighborhoods.
- The National Book Festival returns, with headliners like Cynthia Erivo, and Martin Scorsese. The one-day festival, Saturday, Aug. 22, brings together bookworms and word nerds under the theme “America 250: It’s Your Story.” There are talks, workshops, musical sessions and more.
- All Things Go: A three-day festival Sept. 25-27 at Merriweather Post Pavilion featuring Mitski, Hayley Williams, Brandi Carlile, MUNA, Zara Larsson, Ethel Cain, and many, many more artists. There are single-day and three-day tickets. Featuring and highlighting female artists, the festival has turned into a must-see for many LGBTQ audience members.
- Fuchsia Fest: The inaugural Fuchsia Fest is a new multi-day celebration created to celebrate LGBTQ community and expression, bringing together a mix of community gatherings, entertainment, and nightlife. The event takes place Sept. 18-20 and is hosted by Capital Pride.
Art and Music
- United We Dance: A high-energy rave with house, techno, bass, and festival music, on Aug. 1 at the 9:30 Club.
- The Fray. On Aug. 14, this American rock band famous for How To Save A Life is at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
- Kesha: Kesha’s high-energy The Freedom Tour comes to the D.C. area on Aug. 14 at Jiffy Lube Live.
- ALOK: On Sept. 3 at Lincoln Theater, ALOK (they/them) performs. The poet, comedian, and actor is putting on a new comedy show.
- 2charm, the emerging Australian electronic club-pop duo popular with the queer community, which blends hyperpop and dance music, comes to the Atlantis.
- Sapphic Dance Party: a vibrant, inclusive nightlife and social event designed specifically for queer women, lesbians, bisexuals, trans individuals, and nonbinary folks, at Atlantis on Aug. 21.
- Jazz in the Garden: The most quintessential of D.C. activities returns Friday evenings through Aug. 14. This season’s theme, “American Sounds,” is a nod to the nation’s 250th anniversary. Tunes themes range from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more. Tickets are available through a lottery system a week before each event.
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Tickets on sale for chef Patrick O’Connell’s book launch event
Sept. 18 kickoff to feature José Andrés, Tom Sietsema
Acclaimed chef Patrick O’Connell is preparing to publish his new memoir, “Main, Middle & Gay” in September and he’s launching the book with an event on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium featuring Chef José Andrés and former Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema.
Tickets for the event go on sale Tuesday, July 21 at Ticketmaster; prices start at $55.
O’Connell, who’s gay, is the pioneering Michelin-starred chef and longtime proprietor of the Inn at Little Washington. He spoke with the Blade about the September event and the launch of his first memoir.
“I’ve known [Andrés and Sietsema] for more than 25 years and I have great respect for them,” O’Connell said. “I felt that it would allow us to add a different dimension rather than just have an interviewer. The chemistry will be fun and lively and unpredictable and exciting. I think we’re all different personalities and we’ll compliment each other.”
O’Connell has published cookbooks but this is his first memoir. The event will feature a short film that will highlight his work and the Inn.
“What I hope to do with the event is bring the book to life visually,” he said. “So we’re producing a short film that will be part of it. Most of the audience will not have read the book so it’ll give them a visual flavor of the book. It parallels the evolution of American cuisine over 50 years. It’s a rare perspective to be in the trenches for that long.”
The book’s title refers to the location of the garage on the corner of Main, Middle, and Gay streets in Washington, Va., where he launched his restaurant that became an international culinary destination.
The Blade will publish the rest of its wide-ranging interview with O’Connell in September in conjunction with the book’s release.
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The queer Asian comics building collective joy in D.C.
Spotlighting chaotic ways family, romance, identity take shape in their lives
Kevin Chen’s family tombstone has room for four: him, his parents and his boyfriend. The arrangement might prove to be a little awkward.
“My boyfriend is 100% white, and my parents are 100% disappointed,” Chen confessed.
Jokes about family traditions and the untraditional ways they’re practiced earned a burst of laughs at the bar where Chen was opening for the Pride Comedy Special. The D.C. stand-up event, produced by Comedy Bonfyre last month, spotlighted queer Asian comics who shared the chaotic ways family, romance and identity take shape in their lives.
From candid oral sex takes to top surgery hypotheticals like “Where do the boobs go?”, the night highlighted the loud camaraderie of the queer Asian experience — one that sounds like a cacophony of snorts, cackles and belly laughs. While the comics say they are not quite a community, there’s more than enough shared material to bring them together.
“It was such a magical experience. I loved performing in a queer API lineup. It feels so validating,” Chen said after the show. “I’m wondering, ‘Is this how white men feel all the time?’”
Each performance evoked queer Asian joy through a medium that could use more of its presence.
According to Chen, who is based in D.C., it’s hard to say whether there is a true queer Asian comedy presence in his city. There are only a scattered “handful” of Asian comics, and people of color are underrepresented in queer comic circles, he said.
When Tarunika Anand, a nonbinary lesbian comic, first entered the mainstream D.C. comedy scene, they mostly encountered straight white men, describing the experience as “a culture shock.”
“I feel like sometimes a lot of queer spaces are really white, and then a lot of Asian spaces are really straight,” Anand said. “I don’t feel like I fit into either.”
But feeling marginalized didn’t stop these comics from honing their craft and creating spaces for others like them. Alex Kim, who headlined the special and is based in Brooklyn, runs the queer Asian comedy group Boba Gays, which began on WhatsApp and has since made its way to Lincoln Center.
Every Wednesday, Anand co-produces a free comedy show called Funny Side Up. The queer-led group focuses on inclusivity and showcasing new talent.
“It’s really beautiful to speak about your experience and your existence in a way that’s uplifting,” Anand said.
Family is a major throughline of their comedic repertoires.
Chen, for instance, shared that he identifies with jokes about having Asian immigrant parents and the expectations they pass down.
“You see me, you know this part about me, you know this experience intimately, and I can see the truth that you’re trying to wrap a joke around,” he said. “That hits even harder because that’s my truth too. I think that’s what makes good comedy.”
Anand had the audience at the special howling when they explained that their parents’ be-more-like-them comparisons didn’t end when they came out. Instead, the expectations took on a new form.
“Now, my parents want me to be the best gay,” Anand said. “They’re like, ‘Do you know Ellen DeGeneres?’”
Kim said he’s been trying to unlearn things from his Christian Korean mom. Yet he described a moment when he was getting ready for the club and realized he looked just like his mother getting ready for church.
“I’ve been finding it hard to escape her,” Kim said.
Mutual recognition also radiates through the different ways queer love can take shape. From singlehood to death-do-us-part commitments, the comics cover just about every corner.
Anand is holding out hope for settling down with “a nice, pretty, Indian girl.” They recently went through a breakup and said they felt they dodged a bullet.
“As a person of color, I just don’t think I should be with a Swiftie,” they said.
Chen, touching on what it’s like to be in a queer interracial relationship, said that meeting his white boyfriend’s baby nephew for the first time felt like he was forced to participate in a diversity, equity and inclusion training.
“The dad was like, ‘Please welcome Kevin. Be curious about his culture, his history, his foods,’” Chen joked.
Laughter is not the only reward for the comics.
To Anand, comedy is a space where they can say whatever they want. “It gives me a voice,” they said.
Nik Narain, a North Carolina-based trans and nonbinary South Asian comic who performed at the special, said meeting older trans comedians and taking the stage helped him feel reassured in his identity during his transition.
“Stand-up was a really cool way to process that onstage,” he said. “[It] became a way for me to repackage my thoughts.”
Queer Asians are still figuring out their place in the greater D.C. comedy scene. The group is small in numbers and many are still working toward a full-time comedy career. But Narain feels he’s already made it.
Narain is reluctant to pin it all on one moment. He feels that success is already peeking through in milestones — opening for celebrities, traveling to performances and self-producing shows.
“As long as I can keep doing this, I’m super happy,” he said.
This story was produced as part of the AAJA VOICES fellowship program, a student journalism project of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
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