Mayor Bill de Blasio attended a lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender-friendly St. Patrick 's Day parade on Sunday , and told participants that a society for all is one that embraces and respects everyone . The St. Pat 's for All parade stepped off in Queens under a heavy snowfall . It was held as an alternative to the city 's centuries-old St. Patrick 's Day Parade in Manhattan , which for years has excluded gay groups and this year is scheduled for March 17 . De Blasio , a Democrat , refused to march in last year 's Manhattan parade because it was n't fully inclusive , and Guinness beer dropped its sponsorship . Organizers said last year , though , that they would welcome one gay contingent under its own banner this year . On Sunday , de Blasio said he is 'not ready to commit to marching ' in this year 's Manhattan event . Parade : New York Mayor Bill de Blasio , center , waves the flag of Ireland as he marches beside Kerry Kennedy , third from left , during the all-inclusive St. Pat 's For All parade in Sunnyside , Queens on Sunday . Celebration : Marchers carry a banner reading 'St . Pat 's for All ' on Sunday in the snowy weather . Capital New York reported that NBC Universal employees are planning to march with a banner for Out @ NBCUniversal . The group 's Twitter page describes itself as 'the employee resource group of LGBT & Straight Ally employees at NBCUniversal . ' De Blasio arrived about 15 minutes late to the St. Pats for All parade , sporting a lavender shirt and green tie . Despite the snow and cold he said , 'It 's a sunny day in my world . ' 'You are a hardy troupe , ' he told people gathered for the parade . 'You are here to celebrate no matter what . That is what pride is all about - pride in the fact that in New York City you can be whoever you are . ' The mayor said on Sunday : ' A society for everyone is a society where everyone is respected , where everyone is embraced , where everyone has a say at the table . ' In the past , gays were free to march in the world 's biggest and oldest St. Patrick 's Day Parade but not with banners saying they 're LGBT . Most marching units in the parade carry identifying banners . There are about 320 units in this year 's parade , the parade committee said . The New York Daily News quoted the mayor as saying of the March 17 event ' I 'm not ready to commit to marching , because all we 've heard is that one delegation related to NBC will be allowed to have members of the LGBT community in it . ' Gathering : de Blasio looks on during the snowstorm at the St. Pat 's For All parade . The parade , which embraces diversity , is considered an alternative to New York City 's official St. Patrick 's Day parade . Per Capital New York , de Blasio said 'Having only one delegation associated with one company that allows members of the LGBT community is obviously a pretty narrow concession , and I think we 'd like to see something that 's more inclusive . 'Here is an example of a parade that 's inclusive of all - it celebrates Irish heritage in a way that everyone can be a part of . I hope for some more progress with the parade in Manhattan , but there is still time , and we look forward to some additional discussion and I certainly welcome any discussions with anybody who wants to make it more inclusive . ' 'Even though it is a statement of some progress that this NBC delegation has been included , and I certainly commend that , we need something more for it to really feel like we 've turned a corner here , ' de Blasio reportedly said , per Capital . LGBT activists say the main parade organizer , the Ancient Order of Hibernians , has been under increasing pressure to allow diversity , especially after New York state passed its Marriage Equality Act in 2011 , allowing marriages for same-sex couples . The two grand marshals at the 15th annual St. Pat 's for All parade were longtime human rights activist Kerry Kennedy and Tony Award-winning actor Brian O'Byrne . Patti Lowenhaupt , a retired art teacher and Queens resident who showed up for the parade , said people 'are all human beings underneath it all . ' 'We here in Queens have the ability to accept all kinds of people , ' Lowenhaupt said . Several protesters , however , stood on the side holding signs that read 'Sodom & Gomorrah . ' Other elected officials participating in the St. Pat 's for All parade included City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and city Comptroller Scott Stringer . Onlookers : People snuggle up as they wait for marchers to pass by . Pride : Members of the Gay Officers Action League march carrying a banner .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio attended the St. Pat 's for All parade in Sunnyside , Queens on Sunday . It was held as an alternative to the city 's centuries-old St. Patrick 's Day Parade in Manhattan . The St. Patrick 's Day Parade has for years excluded gay groups and this year is scheduled for March 17 . Hide Caption