Heineken Pulls Support From St. Pat's Day Parade Over Gay Exclusion
- By
- On Top Magazine Staff
- | March 15, 2014
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.)