Over her seven-decade career, Judy Collins has participated in more than 50 albums, won a Grammy, received an Oscar nomination, and performed all over the world. But the singer/songwriter is also an activist who has advocated for LGBT causes and mental health.
She’ll be in Queens on Sunday, March 2, to serve as the Grand Marshal for the St. Pat’s For All Parade.
Collins will have plenty to see. Marching bands, dancing troupes, bagpipers, civic groups, schools, churches, a dog society, and plenty of politicians will walk the route that kicks off at 43rd Street and Skillman Avenue at 1 pm (more or less). After some speeches, they’ll head up Skillman and finish at 58th Street and Woodside Avenue.
She’ll be in good company, too. Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Micky Murray is the other Grand Marshal. When he took office on June 3, 2024, he became the first openly gay person to hold the Lord Mayor title.
This year’s Special Guest is Consul General of Ireland Helena Nolan. Her resume includes serving as Ireland’s Ambassador to Belgium and the Partnership for Peace Liaison Office (2017-2021).
And there are the Rainbow Twirlers, a majorette dance organization located in South Inner-City Dublin. This 50-member group raised funds to pay for the plane tickets and accommodations related to making this trip to Queens.
Now in its 26th year, St Pat’s for All was founded as a protest against the exclusion of the LGBT community from the Manhattan St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It’s evolved into a massive neighborhood celebration. Last year’s event drew more than 120 groups and about 3,800 participants.
Admission is free.
Editor’s note: Things have changed since 1999. The Manhattan parade, which is organized by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, ended the ban on open LGBT marchers in 2014. And for the first time ever in its 61-year history, the Staten Island parade will allow openly LGBT groups to participate this year.
Images: St. Pat’s For All Parade