Boston Beer Co., maker of Sam Adams brew, says it won’t participate in the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
MassEquality, the statewide gay rights group that has been pushing for a group of gay veterans to be allowed in the parade, published a statement from the beer company on its website this morning.
The beer company said in its statement that it was hopeful that “both sides of this issue would be able to come to an agreement that would allow everyone, regardless of orientation, to participate in the parade. But given the current status of the negotiations, we realize this may not be possible.”
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Noting that officials such as Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh have said they won’t march in the parade, the statement said, “We share these sentiments ... and therefore we will not participate in this year’s parade.”
The company noted, however, that it would still participate in the city’s traditional St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, which will be hosted this year for the first time by a black person, state Senator Linda Dorcena Forry.
“We wish her all the best in her historic stewardship of this tradition,” said the statement.
Walsh said Thursday said he would would make one more attempt to resolve a standoff over gays marching openly in the St. Patrick’s Day parade.