Guinness won't be a sponsor of this year's NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade

Guinness is the latest beer giant to withdraw its support for a St. Patrick's Day parade because lesbian and gay groups aren't allowed to march openly.

The beer maker late Sunday announced its decision to drop its sponsorship of Monday's parade in New York City.

Over the weekend, gay rights icon Stonewall Inn had threatened to stop selling Guinness beer if the company continued to sponsor the parade. And LGBT advocacy group GLAAD had planned an anti-Guinness event on Monday.

"We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year's parade," Guinness said in a statement. "As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation."

Parade organizers could not be reached for comment.

sphinx wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

sphinx wrote:

Tell me how would the preacher know if someone was gay?

Maybe he'd see them out on a date with a member of the same sex, just living their lives?

Is the parade opposed to that?

Ben_Reilly wrote:

sphinx wrote:

Is the parade opposed to that?

It's opposed to people walking in the parade and presenting themselves as gay. Thus, it asks them to hide who they are.

BigAndy9 wrote:"presenting themselves as gay"

When you meet a new guy at work Ben - do you ask them once the handshake is over if they are gay?


EDIT: maybe it's different where you live - do they "present themselves as gay"?

gerber wrote:At least Guiness in not racist



it is both Black and White.  

A full Rainbow coloured glass   is a Knickerbockerglory.

BigAndy9 wrote:"presenting themselves as gay"

When you meet a new guy at work Ben - do you ask them once the handshake is over if they are gay?


EDIT: maybe it's different where you live - do they "present themselves as gay"?

Ben_Reilly wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:"presenting themselves as gay"

When you meet a new guy at work Ben - do you ask them once the handshake is over if they are gay?


EDIT: maybe it's different where you live - do they "present themselves as gay"?

Of course I don't, but as you get to know people, you learn these things. Many people aren't comfortable keeping major aspects of their identity a secret like that.

Raggamuffin wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:"presenting themselves as gay"

When you meet a new guy at work Ben - do you ask them once the handshake is over if they are gay?


EDIT: maybe it's different where you live - do they "present themselves as gay"?

I know a woman who is gay. Next time I see her I'll ask her why she didn't present herself as gay when I met her, and why she acts like she's not gay - ie, she doesn't wear a T-shirt declaring that she's gay.  

sphinx wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:"presenting themselves as gay"

When you meet a new guy at work Ben - do you ask them once the handshake is over if they are gay?


EDIT: maybe it's different where you live - do they "present themselves as gay"?

Of course I don't, but as you get to know people, you learn these things. Many people aren't comfortable keeping major aspects of their identity a secret like that.

You seem to think there are only 2 possible states - secret or blatant.  There is another way - the equal way - where like you say people get to learn things slowly.

I mean I find androgynous men attractive - I think a bloke can look bloody good in make up, stockings and suspenders.  However I do not feel the need to go around with a sign saying "likes men who dress as women" and I do not feel the need to tell people I have just met this.  People who get to know me learn this (trust me Ben this is not coming as a shock to any of my old forum mates).  I do not feel I am having to hide part of myself or keep part of myself secret - it is just some things you find out about someone sooner than others.

Ben_Reilly wrote:

sphinx wrote:

You seem to think there are only 2 possible states - secret or blatant.  There is another way - the equal way - where like you say people get to learn things slowly.

I mean I find androgynous men attractive - I think a bloke can look bloody good in make up, stockings and suspenders.  However I do not feel the need to go around with a sign saying "likes men who dress as women" and I do not feel the need to tell people I have just met this.  People who get to know me learn this (trust me Ben this is not coming as a shock to any of my old forum mates).  I do not feel I am having to hide part of myself or keep part of myself secret - it is just some things you find out about someone sooner than others.

This is about a fucking parade and showing off pride in who you are, people! Not about everyday life!

Ben_Reilly wrote:

sphinx wrote:

You seem to think there are only 2 possible states - secret or blatant.  There is another way - the equal way - where like you say people get to learn things slowly.

I mean I find androgynous men attractive - I think a bloke can look bloody good in make up, stockings and suspenders.  However I do not feel the need to go around with a sign saying "likes men who dress as women" and I do not feel the need to tell people I have just met this.  People who get to know me learn this (trust me Ben this is not coming as a shock to any of my old forum mates).  I do not feel I am having to hide part of myself or keep part of myself secret - it is just some things you find out about someone sooner than others.

This is about a fucking parade and showing off pride in who you are, people! Not about everyday life!

Ben_Reilly wrote:It's been a parade of pride before, as when they celebrated the first-ever woman parade master back in the 80s. Sorry folks, this has become about a lot more than just Irishness or St. Patrick's Day.