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Miss Staten Island banned from parade for being bisexual

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London, UK
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Whilst same-sex marriage has been legalised in all 50 states of the US, it seems that Staten Island is determined to remain in the dark ages.

The organisers of the Staten Island St Patrick’s Day Parade have never been the most progressive of people. They’ve lagged behind even the most mundane standards of 21st century progression for a while now, taking heat for excluding LGBTQ+ organisations from marching in the event. They’re the only borough on NYC that upholds such an archaic standard, sitting stubbornly on their misguided high horse despite public opinion and laws of their own country opposing them. But now they may have pushed it too far.

Miss Staten Island is, according to my sources, usually quite an important part of the St. Paddy’s Day Parade. This year, however, the bearer of the title, Madison L’Insalata, was banned from taking part allegedly for ‘safety reasons’, but in reality, because the day before she’d come out as bisexual. In an interview with the New York Post, Miss Staten Island publicly revealed her sexuality for the first time and announced that she planned to take part in the parade decked out in rainbow paraphernalia. ‘I want people to see the colours and ask questions’ she said.

It was by all accounts a subtle and much needed protest against the past discrimination of the organisers – one they took badly. Mere hours after the article broke, L’Insalata received a call from Jim Smith, the director of Miss Staten Island Scholarship Pageants, stating that her and the other pageant girls had been banned from the event by its organisers for their safety.

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As if anyone was tempted to believe this weak excuse from the parade committee, led by Larry Cummings, Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon told the Staten Island Advance that the NYPD was in charge of the parade’s security. ‘I trust them. I would leave that for them to decide, and I don’t think that’s really a valid argument.’

Speaking to the same paper, Larry Cummings, genius at large, had this to say: ‘Here’s the deal, it’s a non-sexual identification parade and that’s that. No, they are not marching. Don’t try to keep asking a million friggin’ questions, ok?’ The professionalism is astounding. St Paddy’s is a holiday not a holigay, am I right guys?!

In the end, it’s probably a good thing that Mr Cummings has dealt with this situation so badly – existentially, he’s right, St Patrick’s Day is not an LGBTQ+ holiday and his parade was never explicitly about gay rights. But by taking such a bigoted stance, he’s directly made LGBTQ+ rights part of the conversation. It’s now gotten far more media coverage than it would have otherwise, and the prevailing articles aren’t about the luck of the Irish.

L’Insalata still attended the parade as a spectator, proudly sporting two rainbow flags. ‘I still wanted to march because I felt I could make a much greater impact being in the parade, waving my rainbow flag,’ L’Insalata told The New York Post Sunday.

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It seems that this ban has amplified the initial message she intended to send by marching in rainbow tenfold. Congrats on your new status as an unwitting LGBTQ+ ally, Mr. Cummings.

Departed London, UK

My interests include social and climate justice, women’s issues, and human rights. If you\’re keen on current affairs and social change, check out my profile! Follow me on Twitter and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

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