NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Both Staten Island's Republican borough president and Democratic congressman are skipping the borough's St. Patrick's Day parade Sunday.
On Twitter, Staten Island Borough President Jimmy Oddo pointed to the parade's lack of inclusion for barring the pride center from marching, saying "No disrespect is intended towards anyone, including colleagues who will march."
For me, my call for inclusion needs to reinforced by my own action. I hope for a good parade this year, and will work towards a truly joyous, inclusive one in 2020 and beyond.
— Jimmy Oddo (@HeyNowJO) March 1, 2019Oddo says he hopes for a more inclusive parade next year.
Staten Island's Pride Center this week announced that the parade's organizer would not let the group participate.
This also prompted Congressman Max Rose to take a pass on marching.
I struggled with how to support our LGBTQ community while still honoring our Island's rich Irish heritage, but for me I cannot march while the @pridecenterSI is still excluded. Let's all work towards making 2020 the parade Staten Island deserves. https://t.co/rNqGIcjnYB
— Max Rose (@MaxRose4NY) March 1, 2019He twitted, "I struggled with how to support our LGBTQ community while still honoring our island's rich Irish heritage, but for me, I cannot march with the center still excluded."





