New York City Mayor Eric Adams celebrated the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee’s decision to allow LGBTQ+ groups to march in the borough annual celebration for the first time ever in 2025.

“From day one, our administration has been clear that celebrations in our city should be welcoming and inclusive, which is why we brought the community together, along with the Staten Island Business Outreach Center, to create the first-ever — and incredibly successful — fully-inclusive St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island earlier this year,” said Mayor Adams.

He expressed excitement about the inclusion, stating, “We are thrilled that, this year, Staten Island’s LGBTQ+ community will finally be welcome to march under their own banner in the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade and we applaud the committee for coming to this decision, which was a long time coming. Congratulations to the Staten Island community, including the Pride Center of Staten Island and the Lavender and Green Alliance, for their long advocacy for inclusion.”

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This celebration marks a significant shift, as Adams previously announced the inaugural LGBTQ+ inclusive St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island, held in March 2024, effectively ending a decades-long conflict. Notably, the Richmond County Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been the last in the world to prohibit LGBTQ+ participation.

Mayor Adams has actively supported LGBTQ+ rights, being the first mayor to participate in the March 2023 “Rainbow Run” and the first in city history to visit the Pride Center of Staten Island in November 2022.