CHINATOWN NYC—Lunar New Year parade invites gays and lesbians to partake in the march.

Unlike the Saint Patrick’s Day and India Day parades, Chinatown’s Lunar New Year parade became the first to invite gay and lesbian groups to participate.

Groups such as St. Patrick’s Day for All and the South Asian Lesbian & Gay Association participated in the event, while over 300 gays and supporters wore rainbow bandanas. Other visitors cheered for the gay marchers.

“Today is a historic breakthrough for this community, and someday I hope we will see the same on [St. Patrick’s Day],” said St. Pat’s for All founder Brendan Fay. “My feeling today was one of joy for this community.”
Other parades have banned gay and lesbian groups from joining, but Steven Tin, executive director of the Better Chinatown Society, said there was no reason to exclude the groups.

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