In an event marking a significant shift in inclusivity, LGBTQ+ groups joyously paraded under their own banners at the Staten Island St. Patrick's Day Parade yesterday, a historic first for a community that has long fought for representation. This change, previously reported by the New York Post, came after the Staten Island parade committee, which faced criticism and declining participation in recent years, opened its arms to these groups last November.

Spectators lined the streets, cheering as the CBS News reported with a renewed spirit of community unity. K.C. Hankins, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, expressed immense pride and relief, saying, "It feels incredible. It feels so good to know that we will not be beaten, not going to be stopped."  Despite the bitter cold, families came together to honor their Irish heritage and recognize the strides taken towards inclusivity. As Staten Island resident and parade attendee Alex Baez told CBS News, "It brings us together, the family, spend time with my boys, my wife."

It was clear that the focus of the day was on embracing the entire community, a sentiment echoed by parade committee chairman Edward Patterson, who stated he was "happy to have the Pride Center marching with us." However, not all responses were celebratory. Bishop Peter Byrne of the Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church expressed his disapproval, citing that the Pride Center's ideologies stand in stark contrast to church teachings. According to statements Byrne made to the New York Post, he felt compelled to disassociate his parish from the event. Nonetheless, Staten Islanders seemed to largely embrace the parade's newfound diversity, as one parishioner criticized Byrne, arguing that inclusivity aligns more closely with the teachings of Christ than his divisive statement.