STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An Advance report about whether gay groups should be allowed to march in the Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade under their own banner spurred a debate among silive.com commenters.

a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender support group at NBC, which broadcasts the parade, will be the first gay group to march along Fifth Avenue under its own banner in one of the city's largest and oldest parades.

In the past, gay people have been allowed to march, but only with other groups. And they were prohibited from carrying banners identifying themselves as gay.

Members of the Richmond County chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians expressed opposition to OUT@NBCUniversal's inclusion in the Manhattan festivities. The group has yet to address whether it will lift its decades-long ban at the borough parade like its New York City counterparts.

Many silive.com commenters expressed strong opposition to gay groups marching under their own banner at both the Manhattan and Staten Island St. Patrick's parades.

"The parade [has] never discriminated against any gay pride groups ... because the parades do not show any type of sexual orientation pride groups at all. There are no straight pride groups, and there should be no gay pride groups. A display of your sexuality is not the purpose of the parade, nor should it be," said Chef87.

Added Athena1943: "I am Catholic, Irish and straight -- Does that mean that I can march with a banner saying: "I am Straight"? Don't think so. The gays are permitted to march, in fact we welcome them, but not with a banner announcing their sexuality."

"What does one's sexual orientation have to do with Irish culture and heritage?" macfatty74 posted. "It's apples and oranges. I don't get it and no soul on earth can convince me other(wise). Why do people have to meld the two into such a dysfunctional display in front of the children."

Commenters also spoke in favor of gay marchers proudly displaying their own banner.

"Why should you not be able to march under such a banner? I would support your right to do so. It would not be a 'hate crime' as there is no crime involved. I am all for EVERYONE having equal rights," greatvalerio posted.

Why The Anger added: "Staten Island will always be three to five years behind with our Middle Ages mentality ... Then one day, people who use common sense will rise to the top of leadership, and will see how silly our restrictions have been over the years ... If it is a city permitted parade, on city owned streets, the only limitation should be volume, not affiliation ... can LGBT people love St. Patrick? be Irish? be Catholic? love God?"

Said good_grief_ 2: "What one should go down in history for is working to bring the blessings of liberty to every American citizen, regardless of what quality or characteristic is different from those you possess."