"A society for all is one that embraces and respects everyone." This is the message delivered by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as he joined hundreds of people who attended the St. Patrick's Day parade in Queens last Sunday.

The event was held as an alternative to the city's centuries-old St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan, which prohibits the participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups. The celebration took off under a heavy snowfall.

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De Blasio showed up 15 minutes late, sporting a lavender shirt and green tie. The cold weatherd did not dampen his spirit.

"It's a sunny day in my world," De Blasio said.

The Mayor was deliberately absent from the main parade in Manhattan last year because he did not agree with the exclusion of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community from the march.

Gays are actually allowed to join in the world's biggest and oldest St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, but they are not allowed to  hold up banners to announce that they are a delegation from the LGBTs. This is in contrast with other groups who can freely hold up banners that identify their organizations.

The parade in Manhattan will be held on March 17.

As a new development, organizers have declared that they will welcome gay representation this year.

Guinness beer pulled out its sponsorship of the Manhattan parade last year.

LGBT activitst say parade organizers in Manhattan, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, have been feeling the pressure coming from quarters who say it is time for diversity to be introduced in the celebration of the St. Patrick's Day.

The issue has become more relevant after New York enacted its Marriage Equality Act three years ago, which recognized marriages for same-sex couples.

As for Sunday's celebration in Queens, the Mayor told those who were gathered, "You are a hardy troupe. You are here to celebrate, no matter what. That is what the parade is all about - the pride in the fact that in New York City, you can be whoever you are."

TagsBill de Blasio, St. Patrick's Day, gay parade, queens, LGBT