The Pride Center of Staten Island will march in the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade next year, marking the first time in the event’s history that an LGBTQ+ group will march. 

In a statement provided to NY1, the Richmond County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee said it has invited the LGBTQ+ center to march under its own banner when the event kicks off on March 2, 2025. 

The committee’s recently installed new leadership made the decision, according to the statement.

“The Parade Committee is entrusted with ensuring the focus of the parade remains upon Saint Patrick, the history, traditions, culture, and faith of the Irish people,” the committee’s statement said. “In this endeavor, the leadership of the Pride Center has assured the Parade Committee that they are ready to provide support to the Parade in fulfilling this obligation.”

“It is not lost on the Parade Committee how controversial this event has become,” it added. “The end to this controversy is to the benefit of the Committee, the Pride Center, and the greater Staten Island community.”

Pride Center executive director Carol Bullock confirmed the news — which was first reported by the Staten Island Advance — to NY1.

“I have to say that words cannot describe how happy I am but I can tell you one thing: I have never been prouder to be a Staten Islander than I am today," she told NY1.

Year after year, she went in person to apply to march in the parade and was denied by then-president Larry Cummings. He cited religious reasons as to why the group could not march behind their banner.

For the past 60 years, the parade committee has not allowed LGBTQ+ groups to participate in its St. Patrick’s Day festivities. 

This past year, the Pride Center told NY1 it had been denied entry because application rules barred the promotion of any sexual identification or political agendas. 

The Forest Avenue Business Improvement District held a separate St. Patrick’s Day parade on Staten Island in protest that allowed anyone who wished to march to participate.

In a statement released Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams praised the committee's decision.

"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," Adams said. "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."