The Irish LGBTQ group Lavender and Green Alliance unfolded a new banner to coincide with New York Pride celebrations Sunday.
The banner, according to the group, highlights Irish LGBT pioneers Oscar Wilde, Fr. John McNeill, Tarlach MacNiallais, Lyra McKee, and Eva Gore Booth.
Said a release: Early in the morning on June 29th members of Irish LGBTQ group Lavender and Green Alliance – Muintir Aerach na hÉireann celebrated Pride 2025 by unfurling a new banner in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Brendan Fay founder of Lavender and Green Alliance in 1994 said: “Pride 2025 is a sacred time – for the LGBTQ community here and around the world. We come out and come together, challenge prejudice, find hope and healing, courage and belonging in global movement.”
At the Cathedral, Fay and his spouse, Tom Moulton, were also part of the Pride Witness by the LGBT Catholic group DIGNITY NY.
Added the release: "These are concerning times for our LGBTQ communities here and we are witnessing the stripping away of our rights and our history. LGBT immigrants are especially vulnerable.
"Our Lavender and Green Alliance banner honors courageous pioneers and saints of our LGBTQ movement said Michael Kane who designed the banner working with Fay and Jesús Lebrón."
The group distributed buttons with their theme for Pride “Éirimid Amach le Chéile - "We rise and come out together.”
Brendan Fay said: "This year we are celebrating the centenary of pioneer gay priest Fr. John McNeill (1925-2015).
Added the release: "A prisoner of war in Nazi Germany John was the first priest to come out on national television in 1976 when he published the book "The Church and the Homosexual.” Fr Mychal Judge (1933-2001) became known as the priest to call during the AIDS crisis and a saint of 9/11. Michael Anthony Kane said Fr. Mychal Judge was known by firefighter members of his family. Fay directed the film 'Remembering Mychal' and is editing a collection for next year's 25th (9/11) anniversary.
Added Fay: "This year we celebrated the 10th anniversary of marriage in the U.S. and in Ireland. We included the image of Ann Louise Gilligan (1945-2017) Irish Catholic Theologian, teacher and who with her wife Katherine Zappone was a leading campaigner for human rights and marriage equality.Their case was key to the successful national referendum in Ireland in May 2015.
"At the end of the march the group visited the Franciscan church on 31st Street, home of Fr. Mychal Judge before his death on 9/11. Here he carried out his ministry among the New York City Firefighters and those living with AIDS."
Fay concluded: "There is a lot more work needed to protect LGBTQ rights and stem the rise of anti LGBTQ prejudice. We need stories to heal, give hope, raise awareness and awaken a new generation of activists.”
