Beannachtam na Feile Padraig + 2!

So, apparently those of homosexual persuasion were still not welcome in New York City’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, and it’s no surprise to me that some people think those of us in the GLBTQI community are no better than Nazis and Klansmen (ya know, the ones who would exterminate us like so many human pests, if they could). Remember, the Nazis in WWII had enough hate to spread around to almost everyone not of their beloved "master Aryan race." In my humble opinion, comparing gay people to Nazis is beyond insane; it is way, way below the belt. The US Holocaust Memorial Museum estimates that 100,000 men were arrested by Hitler's regime during World War II for simply being "suspected" homosexuals. 5,000 to 15,000 were estimated to have been killed for their “crime”.

Anyway, even though the boots of the NYC’s first openly-gay City Council Speaker, Christine Quinn, didn’t have the chance walk in this year’s St. Paddy’s Day parade, I’m pretty sure that Ms. Quinn quickly forgot about the little minds in the Big Apple, though, considering her cool consolation prize! Christine Quinn got to actually celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with our President! It’s still so amazing to me the difference one election can make. We still have a long way to go, of course, but it’s so good sometimes to be reminded that not everyone is motivated by ignorance & fear.