The Allied War Veterans, the dinosaurs who run the St. Patrick’s  parade in South Boston, have just renamed themselves, in my opinion, after they refused to allow the Veterans for Peace to march with them. They are now The Veterans for War.  The Veterans for Peace have organized an alternative march, which will take place on the same day, Sunday, March 17 in South Boston.

They have reached out to LGBT groups, encouraging us to join them. They said “You were not allowed to march eighteen years ago, how would you like to march with us?”

I urge everyone in our community to join this alternative parade. It will be organized at 2 p.m., in front of the wonderfully named Shennigan’s Irish Pub, at 332 Broadway, and will march at 3 p.m., just behind the Veterans for War.

If you are not up to marching, come join me at Shennigans. As a footnote, Bill Linehan, the Boston City Councillor  who represents part of the South End , has put out a lot of blather, in an article on the front page of The South End News, about how he supports the GLBT community and is marching in the Veterans for War parade. His presence there speaks for itself. South End voters take note.

Hope to see you on March 17th

--Barbara R. Hoffman