STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- While plans for the St. Patrick’s Parade in West Brighton on March 3 are in the making, Borough President James Oddo took to social media to appeal for inclusion of the Staten Island Pride Center.

“The St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island is a joy,” Oddo tweeted on Friday. “I look forward to marching next month, and time has long since passed that we include the [Pride Center of Staten Island.]"

“What a unifying moment it would be for our borough to reach an accord and have all of [Staten Island] enjoying this happy day,” Oddo continued.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island is a joy. I look forward to marching next month, and time has long since passed that we include the @pridecenterSI. What a unifying moment it would be for our borough to reach an accord and have all of SI enjoying this happy day. — Jimmy Oddo (@HeyNowJO) February 15, 2019

Carol Bullock, executive director of the Pride Center, stated in an email dated Nov. 21, 2018 that she approached St. Patrick’s Parade organizer, Larry Cummings, at a separate event to talk about the Pride Center’s involvement in the affair. Bullock claims he “flat out refused and said there was nothing to talk about, it wasn’t going to happen.”

The Pride Center responded to Oddo’s tweet saying “It’s time that all members of the community along with friends and family are allowed to march in celebration of their Irish heritage.”

Cummings declined the Advance’s request for comment.

The Pride Center thanks #StatenIsland Borough President Jimmy Oddo for his support. It’s time that all members of the community along with friends and family are allowed to march in celebration of their Irish heritage. — Pride Center of SI (@pridecenterSI) February 15, 2019

A MARCH WITH HISTORY

This isn’t the first time the Pride Center of Staten Island has been excluded from the borough’s St. Patrick’s Parade.

When Staten Island’s LGBTQ community wanted to march in 2011, organizers told them they could march, but could not carry a banner or anything else that identified them because of the Catholic Church’s teachings against homosexuality.

The issue came up again in 2014, when the Pride Center -- then known as the Staten Island LGBT Community Center -- applied to participate, following the welcoming of similar groups in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

In 2016, Mayor Bill de Blasio boycotted the Staten Island parade due to its ban on LGBTQ representatives. His predecessor, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, participated in the annual St. Pat’s for All parade in Queens, co-founded by longtime activist Brendan Fay, leader of the Lavender & Green Alliance, in response to the Fifth Avenue parade ban.

WANT TO ATTEND THIS YEAR?

The 55th annual Staten Island St. Patrick’s Parade will step off at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. The Forest Avenue route begins at Hart Boulevard and ends at Jewett Avenue.

Jack King will serve as grand marshal of the 2019 parade. His son, Sean, will serve as aide to the grand marshal.