Every March 17, we’re provided with an excuse to get drunk and make fools of ourselves—not that we needed one. And though St. Patrick’s Day isn’t usually thought of as a gay holiday—quite the opposite, in some cases—there are a few facets of the festival that are downright queer.
Find St. Patrick’s Day events in your area on GayCities.
Beards
The kind you wear on your face, not the one you marry—although that offers some extra queer overtones, too. Guys who slap on faux beards suddenly become this month’s bear centerfold, and women who don fake facial hair on St. Pat’s Day are being all kinds of gender transgressive.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Speaking the Mother Tongue
Ireland’s native language is Gaelic—I heartily endorse any holiday that encourages straight people to say “gay lick” repeatedly.
The Parade
You might think us gays invented pride parades, but the Irish were marching in the streets back when they were treated like second-class citizens. By gathering en masse, they challenged people to accept them. Over the years, it became less about historical significance and more about having a party.
This year the New York City’s famed St. Patrick’s Day parade will welcome an LGBT organization into its ranks for the first time — OUT@NBCUniversal, an LGBT resource group at the company that both broadcasts the parade and is affiliated with msnbc’s parent company.
Guinness
Thick. Dark. Smooth. Creamy. Good head. Six pack. Your beer sounds like a Grindr profile, bro.
Famous gay Irish people
Oscar Wilde was more Irish than the Lucky Charms leprechaun and gayer than a 3:00pm brunch. Also gay and Irish? Francis Bacon, Graham Norton, Stephen Gately and (at one point) Sinead O’Connor. Irish-American lesbians can count Rosie O’Donnell and NYC mayor hopeful among their numbers.
Wearing of the Green
Whenever people plan costume requirements for their shindig, I hear Miss Vida Boheme from Too Wong Foo in my head saying, “This party craves a theme.” Your holiday has a dress code? That’s drag-caliber gay.
Drunk Straight Guys
No one likes a obnoxious frat boy drunkenly vomiting in the gutter. But a straight dude that’s just “drunk enough” can be a blessed thing. Look, it’s an exciting day, everyone’s had a lot of whiskey, and that “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” button doesn’t specify who should plant that smooch. Besides, in the morning he can just pretend he doesn’t remember anything.
Heck, if you go to a St. Paddy’s Day party that’s wild enough, two dudes might even break-dance naked in front of a huge crowd, like Irish hip-hop brothers Jedward did in 2010 (link NSFW-ish).
jacknasty
yes, let’s all date rape straight men and confirm all homophobes’ fears that’s a great way to celebrate st patricks day.
kevininbuffalo
RuPaul representing Gay Irishmen?
No thanks.
That statue of Oscar Wilde reposing on a rock is located in a park across the street from Wilde’s old home in Dublin. Dubliners refer to it as “The fag on the crag.”
Bob LaBlah
Wasn’t there some way possible to leave ol’ bowling ball headed Rosie O’youknowwho out of it?
polarisfashion
What, no talk of men wearing kilts with no underwear underneath?!!! I want to see some hot guy wearing a kilt while standing on top of an air vent that causes it to blow up in the air! Seven Year Itch anyone?!!!
DarkZephyr
@polarisfashion: Isn’t that a Scottish thing?
DarkZephyr
@kevininbuffalo: It was the green dress. Calm down.