YDRC Stands with LGBTQ+ Staten Islanders
The Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee once again has denied The Pride Center of Staten Island and GOALny - Gay Officers Action League NY from marching in the annual parade. This parade is one of the Island's largest community events and this discrimination against LGBTQ+ affirming groups cannot continue to go on.
The Young Democrats of Richmond County have been active in this fight since 2012, when YDs marched in the parade wearing pins made out of Dominick DeRubbio's cut up Rainbow belt. Together, Dominic, Amy Elizabeth , Kim Moscaritolo, Jermaine Endeley and more stood with the LGBTQ+ community in the face of this discrimination.
Since then, YDs have consistently advocated for the parade organizers to let ALL Staten Islanders march.
In 2015, we put on the first annual Rainbow Run SI, which has grown from 7 runners to a massive crew spreading love down Forest Ave. Since then, our president, KC Hankins, has used the platform of The Rainbow Run to bring in many local organizations to put pressure on our leaders to stand with the Pride Center until we are all allowed to proudly march.
We are proud of our Democratic Elected Officials who are choosing to stand with LGBTQ+ community by not marching in the parade. Thank you Chairman & Assemblymember Cusick, Congressman Max Rose, Council Member Debi Rose, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams & Governor Andrew Cuomo.
In addition, we are very proud of our Borough President James Oddo, for being one of the first to stand with the Pride Center of Staten Island last year by not marching. He proved LGBTQ+ lives are not a partisan issue and he chose to stand on the right side of history even when it was, and still is, politically challenging.
What message does it send to our LGBTQ+ family if we march in a parade that doesn't welcome them? As Democrats we cannot expect the LGBTQ+ community to be with us if we don’t stand strong in unity. We are very proud of YDRC for consistently standing with the LGBTQ+ Community over the years and we will continue that legacy.
We hope that all Democrats, especially our elected representatives, will join us in not marching in the parade.
Instead, we hope you will join us in the Rainbow Run SI, create visibility on Forest Ave in your best rainbow gear and celebrate at businesses displaying pro-inclusion window decals.
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