Behind The Mic With Joe Mathieu: St. Patrick's Day Parade Agreement Evolves

BOSTON (CBS) – It appears members of Boston's gay community will be allowed to march in this year's Saint Patrick's Day parade in Southie.

But they won't be able to carry signs with pro-gay messages. It's the caveat that comes with this agreement. An agreement that may still be evolving.

Parade organizers met over the weekend with Mayor Marty Walsh who has threatened to boycott if gays and lesbians are banned from marching. Congressman Stephen Lynch joined the talks as well.

Mayor Walsh issued a statement over the weekend saying they had a "very positive" meeting and that he and the Congressman remain optimistic that a solution can be reached.

The group behind the parade – the Allied War Veterans Council – set the parameters on signs and it's unclear if other LGBT groups may end up marching.

Of course, the great irony is this is happening in the state that pioneered same-sex marriage on a legal level. But here we are. Still wrestling with this almost 20 years after the issue went all the way to the Supreme Court.

It was the court's unanimous 1995 ruling that protected the exclusion of gays and lesbians and set the precedent for the next two decades. That's why this is such a big deal on a cultural and political level.

Surely people will be disappointed, no matter the outcome.

But that will not change the fact that grown-ups had a conversation - not a confrontation - about a very controversial issue.

And that in itself should be seen as progress.

Follow Joe on Twitter @joemathieuwbz

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