A Brief History of St. Patrick's Day

Irish...and Gay
Gay rights groups have battled with New York City's Catholic St. Patrick's Day parade organizers for decades — annual protests have sometimes ended in arrests (above). In 1991, Mayor David Dinkins pushed to have the marchers included in the parade; he walked with them and endured jeers, obscenities and even beer cans thrown from the crowds lining the parade route. In 2006, the parade chairman was quoted comparing gay activists to Neo-Nazis and the Klu Klux Klan.

• Colorful Religious Festivals