Limerick, by Louis Brown

In Honor of Brendan Fay

There was a gay libber from Gotham,

He was Irish from his top to his bottom,

They told him no parade,

He screamed, “What a charade!”

That Irish gay libber from Gotham.

For many years I followed the radical career of Brendan Fay. We always seemed to be going to the same protest marches. In fact, I knew him when he was quite young. He was good-looking, somewhat short, his ears stuck out just enough to make him look like a leprechaun. He was a great impassioned public speaker.

For many years the Hibernian Society that was in charge of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City refused to let any gay group march under their own banners. The Irish Lesbian Gay Association went to federal court and claimed that since the St. Pat’s day parade was a public accommodation, the Hibernian Society could not exclude any group. ILGA lost the lawsuit. So, every year ILGA members and many gay and Lesbian Irish stood on the sidewalks and protested.

Eventually the local politicians became more supportive of the gay and Lesbian Irish people’s cause, and the mayor and the governor stopped attending the St. Pat’s day parade. Three or four years ago, the Hibernian Society permitted gay and lesbian military veterans to march under their own banner. Though that was progress, it was not good enough. “If we can march in Dublin and Cork, why can’t we march right here in New York?” Brendan Fay made frequent visits to Ireland especially when there were legal cases involving homophobia or legal restrictions on abortion.

ILGA once advocated interrupting Catholic masses to remind the faithful of the Catholic Church’s homophobic policies. And in general, ILGA was too radical for Brendan Fay so he set up a more liberal organization the Lavender and Green Alliance which sponsored the setting up of an inclusive Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Woodside, in Queens County. This parade has become extremely popular and well-attended over the years.

Brendan Fay married Dr. Thomas Moulton in Toronto, Canada, in 1995, and Brendan’s last name is Celtic for “fairy.” At these many demonstrations over the years, I also met Ms. Barbara Mohr, half Puerto Rican, half Irish. Ms. Mohr (née Hefernan) who also worked hard for all of Brendan’s causes, including Dignity NY. Of course, she is gone now.

Question: Are any gay or Lesbian groups marching under their own banners in the annual Denver Saint Patrick’s Day Parade? Did any gay group every try? Was it an issue?

Then there is Daniel Dromm, another gay Irishman on the New York City scene. NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm set up and still supports Queens Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club which meets in Jackson Heights and also founded the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride March Committee. This annual march is very well attended and is followed by a rally and entertainment.  

© 15 Mar 2017  

About the Author  

I was born in 1944, I lived most of my life in New York City, Queens County. I still commute there. I worked for many years as a Caseworker for New York City Human Resources Administration, dealing with mentally impaired clients, then as a social work Supervisor dealing with homeless PWA's. I have an apartment in Wheat Ridge, CO. I retired in 2002. I have a few interesting stories to tell. My boyfriend Kevin lives in New York City. I graduated Queens College, CUNY, in 1967.