Heineken on Friday dropped its
sponsorship of New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade, the nation's
largest, to protest organizers' refusal to allow gay groups to participate.
“We believe in equality for all,” a
Heineken representative told CNBC on Friday. “We are no longer a
sponsor of Monday's parade.”
GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis
applauded the move.
“Heineken sent the right message to
LGBT youth, customers and employees who simply want to be part of the
celebration,” Ellis said in a statement.
The decision leaves Guinness as the
parade's only beer sponsor.
Heineken's decision came after Sam
Adams pulled its sponsorship of the South Boston St. Patrick's Day
Parade, which also excludes LGBT people.
(Related: Sam
Adams withdraws support from Boston St. Pat's Day parade.)