South Boston Allied War Veterans v. City of Boston case files (Parade case)

Series

Identifier: 0700.027

Staff Only

Dates

1994-1995

Creator

Boston (Mass.). Law Department (Organization)

Historical note

In July 1994, the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, which has traditionally sponsored the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Boston, instituted this action against the City of Boston and its Mayor. The South Boston Allied War Veterans Council requested a declaratory judgment and injunction to compel the City to issue the Council a permit for a Parade to be held on March 19, 1995, without the special condition that the Veterans allow the Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston to participate in the Parade. In November, 1994, GLIB agreed to the City's motion that it be joined as a necessary party and it became a defendant. The Court ruled that conditioning the issuance of the permit for the Veterans' 1995 St. Patrick's Day parade on the inclusion of the Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group violated the Veterans' right of expressive association under the First Amendment.