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   From: nfp@gladd.org   
      
   (Reuters) - Two major beer manufacturers on Friday dropped   
   sponsorship of St. Patrick's Day parades in New York City and   
   Boston to protest bans on gays marching openly.   
      
   Sam Adams pulled out of Boston's parade, which takes place on   
   Sunday, and Heineken yanked its support of the New York City   
   parade, slated for Monday. Both parades are allowing gay groups   
   to march but are banning signage about sexual orientation.   
      
   Sam Adams made the announcement after coming under pressure from   
   Club Cafe, a Boston bar patronized by the gay community. The bar   
   threatened in a Facebook post on Thursday to stop pouring Sam   
   Adams unless the company withdrew sponsorship.   
      
   "We were hopeful that both sides of this issue would be able to   
   come to an agreement that would allow everyone, regardless of   
   orientation, to participate in the parade," Jessica Paar, a   
   spokeswoman for Boston Beer Company, which brews Sam Adams, said   
   in a statement.   
      
   "But given the current status of the negotiations, we realize   
   this may not be possible."   
      
   Gay rights activists praised Heineken's decision.   
      
   "Heineken sent the right message to LGBT youth, customers and   
   employees who simply want to be part of the celebration," Sarah   
   Kate Ellis, president of gay rights group GLAAD, said in a   
   statement.   
      
   A Heineken representative told CNBC on Friday: "We believe in   
   equality for all. We are no longer a sponsor of Monday's parade."   
      
   In February, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that   
   he would not be marching in this year's parade in support of the   
   lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Boston Mayor   
   Martin Walsh has vowed not to attend the parade unless LGBT   
   groups are allowed to march openly.   
      
   http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/15/us-usa-parade-beer-   
   idUSBREA2E02720140315   
      
       
      
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