BOSTON, March 16 (UPI) -- Boston presented an inclusive St. Patrick's Day parade Sunday, with gay and lesbian organizations represented and Mayor Martin Walsh leading the spectacle.
It was the first time in 20 years a Boston mayor walked the route since former Mayor, Thomas Merino, constantly boycotted the parade due to the lack of organizers who would allow gay groups to participate.
LGBT groups included OUTVETS which includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender veterans.
The decision opened the door to an assortment of participating politicians; Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey and Rep. Stephen F. Lynch and most Boston City Council members marched.
The history-making parade, staying true to tradition, included a long line of bagpipers, dancers and green-clad participants. Despite rain and cold temperatures, observers stood throughout most of the parade. 10 arrests and 278 citations, mostly for public drinking violations, were issued.
The gay groups were well-received, with enthusiastic applause in some sections of the parade. One OutVets marcher, Iraq War veteran and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, noted last week, "Gay rights are the civil rights of our generation." Another, Air Force veteran David Story, told the New York Times , "We're marching not just for us, but for all the closeted LGBT people who may have been in the Air Force, are in the military, for years past and the ones that may be in now."
Boston takes its annual St. Patrick's Day seriously, not only to commemorate its strong Irish heritage but to honor Evacuation Day, when the Continental army, under Gen. George Washington, forced a British retreat from the area on March 17, 1776.
