[A St Patrick’s Day protest by the LGBT community on Fifth Avenue in New York in 2012, over the LGBT parade ban]

Guinness has withdrawn its sponsorship from the New York St Patrick’s Day parade because of the ban on openly gay and lesbian groups marching.

Boston Beer Company (which produces Samuel Adams Lager) pulled their sponsorship from the parade in Boston for the same reason, while Heineken has also withdrawn it’s support from the New York City parade.

The Guardian reports:

“Guinness has a strong history of supporting diversity and being an advocate for equality for all. We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year’s parade,” the brewer said in a written statement issued by a spokesman for its UK parent company, Diageo.

“As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation. We will continue to work with community leaders to ensure that future parades have an inclusionary policy,” Guinness said.

Previously: Meanwhile On Fifth Avenue

Guinness pulls out of New York’s St Patrick’s Day parade over gay rights (Guardian)

Pic: Stephen O’Farrell