Miss Staten Island Comes Out as Bisexual, Banned from St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Credit: Chad Rachman

After coming out to local media as bisexual, Miss Staten Island Madison L’Insalata was barred from marching in her borough’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

The 23-year-old was expected to march in the parade, and she told the local news that she planned on wearing rainbow colors to the event.

“It’s really hurtful. Nobody likes to feel rejected from their community,” L’Insalata told local news.

Jim Smith, executive director of Miss Staten Island Scholarship pageants, told The Post that he received a call from the parade organizer saying that L’Insalata would not be able to march in the parade. The organizer, Larry Cummings, cited “safety reasons” as to why L’Insalata was dropped.

Credit: Dennis Rees

Cummings also banned another pageant queen that came out in support of L’Insalata.

“[I]t’s a non-sexual identification parade and that’s that,” Cummings told the Staten Island Advance last month.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Staten Island has been criticized in the past for not allowing the Pride Center of Staten Island to participate. Even a local councilman was barred from participating in the parade in the past for wearing a pin depicting the pride flag.

Despite everything that has happened though, L’Insalata still showed up to the parade as a bystander wearing her rainbow scarf and heart sticker.

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