Mayor de Blasio rejected demands Tuesday by activists and elected officials that he ban city workers from marching in uniform in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade because organizers exclude openly gay participants.
“I believe that uniformed city workers have the right to participate if they choose to, and I respect that right,” Hizzoner said at City Hall.
Advocates said municipal workers in official dress garb — including cops, firefighters, correction officers and sanitation workers — send the message that the city is sanctioning an event they consider to be discriminatory.
While several advocates gave credit to de Blasio for being the first City Hall chief in 20 years to boycott the event, others said he didn’t go far enough.
“Yes it’s good that he’s not attending, but it’s not what we’re asking of him. We’re asking more,” said Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.
“I disagree with the response. I believe that city employees should not be allowed to march as city employees.”
Roskoff was among dozens who signed an open letter published in Gay City News — including Public Advocate Letitia James and two City Council members — calling on de Blasio to yank the uniforms.
Despite not heeding their call, the mayor — who said he would be participating in other events around the city celebrating Irish-American heritage — emphasized he disagreed with the parade’s stance against openly gay groups.
“I simply disagree with the organizers of that parade in their exclusion of some individuals in this city,” he said.
De Blasio did not attend the parade when he served as public advocate.
His decision to boycott the parade as mayor drew criticism, including from the Catholic League and Republican Councilman Eric Ulrich.
“I understand that this mayor wants to take a very activist approach to things . . . but certain things are not political, and they shouldn’t be political,” said Ulrich (R-Queens).
“Previous administrations and previous mayors . . . have disagreed with the Catholic Church vehemently on abortion, on gay rights and on so many other social issues, yet they never let that get in the way of them attending such an important event.”
The NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, the nonprofit that runs the event, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Parade organizers successfully argued in court two decades ago that they had the right to control the message sent out by parade participants because the event is private.