Last Call For Rainbow-Colored Glasses (Of Beer)

Sam Adams Brewery is making a hell of a statement by pulling out of Boston's Southie St. Patty's Day parade over LGBTQ equality issues:

We have been participating in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade for nearly a decade and have also supported the St. Patrick’s Day breakfast year after year. We’ve done so because of the rich history of the event and to support veterans who have done so much for this country.

We were hopeful that both sides of this issue would be able to come to an agreement that would allow everyone, regardless of orientation, to participate in the parade. But given the current status of the negotiations, we realize this may not be possible.

We share these sentiments with Mayor Walsh, Congressman Lynch and others and therefore we will not participate in this year’s parade. We will continue to support Senator Linda Dorcena Forry and her St. Patrick’s Day breakfast. We wish her all the best in her historic stewardship of this tradition.

The collapse in negotiations between advocacy group MassEquality and parade sponsor Allied War Veterans Council over allowing gay veterans to march in the parade has now triggered Sam Adams pulling out.  For Boston (and especially Southie) this is a hell of a big deal.

“Mayor Walsh obviously is disappointed that these two parties could not come to an agreement for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade,’’ said Lisa Pollack, communications chief for Walsh. He “will always hold out hope that we can find a way for everybody to be included.”

Parade organizer Philip J. Wuschke Jr. did not return calls for comments Wednesday. Lynch also could not be reached for comment. An aide to Lynch did not respond to questions about whether the congressman would march Sunday and continued to strike a hopeful tone.

“Talks regarding the parade are ongoing,” Meghan Aldridge, Lynch’s press secretary, said. “Congressman Lynch remains hopeful that a solution agreeable to all parties involved can be reached in time for Sunday’s parade.”

There's only 36 hours or so left at this point before the parade, and it's looking like Boston's most famous brew isn't going to be at Boston's most famous yearly event.  Looks like I underestimated Mayor Walsh.

Besides, it's 2014.  Get over it, Southie.