Controversy in the Republic last night over an old problem for Sinn Fein, the St Patricks Day celebrations in the US, where they do things a little lot differently than they do at home. It concerns this cross parliamentary video supporting the St Pat’s For All parade in NYC…
In the US, New York and Boston have continued to ban the participation of LGBT groups. In the case of Boston there’s been substantial progress towards change, but in NYC the Mayor and the City Council are boycotting the main St Pat’s celebrations.
This video was intended organised by FF Senator Averil Power (and shot by LGBT activist Karl Hayden) to send out a powerful message from the heart of Irish government to the Irish America. Though it seems the message was too strong for Sinn Fein’s blood, and they pulled a Senator out just 30 mins before the shoot.
Last night Hayden tweeted…
@suzybie DISAPPOINTED there was no @sinnfeinireland rep in video. American money more important than LGBT equality? @sinnfeinlgbt Shame!
— Karl Hayden (@Khayden2412) March 2, 2014
This was followed by a counter claim by the Sinn Fein LGBT Twitter account to the effect that..
@Khayden2412 it was organised without anyone informing us. Something that establishment parties are very good at. We support equality.
— Sinn Féin LGBT (@sinnfeinlgbt) March 2, 2014
Followed by a claim by one of the participants organiser Fianna Fail’s Senator Averil Power that…
@sinnfeinlgbt @Khayden2412 @suzybie That is totally untrue. Suggest you speak to your Justice Spokesperson about why they refused to do it.
— Senator Averil Power (@averilpower) March 2, 2014
It’s not the first time someone further down the party chain has felt a collar tug from party Headquarters. On this occasion, apparently the message was too strong.
Perhaps one of the problems of being so reliant on wealthy overseas sponsors, is that in the US, the if I pay, I have a say principle still holds…
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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