BOSTON (UPI) -- After nearly two weeks of controversy, an estimated
600,000 people turned out Sunday for the St. Patrick's Day parade
through South Boston, but police reported no major incidents involving
the participation of a small gay rights contingent.
	Gay rights activists obtained a court order last week allowing them
to march as an organized unit for the first time in the 91-year-old
parade, sparking angry protests from residents and officials of the
predominently Irish-American, blue collar neighborhood.
	The 25 gay marchers, protected by a heavy police presence, were
persistently showered with boos, insults and threats along the parade
route. Grade-school kids and grandmothers screamed expletives at the gay
marchers.
	``I booed the fags. I've done my job,'' said Neil Martin of Boston's
Jamaica Plain section. ``I can go home now.''
	The gays responded to the taunts with ``Thank you Southie! We love
you.''
	Police said there were no major incidents in the parade. Eight people
were arrested during the afternoon-long event on charges of drunkenness,
assault and battery and disorderly conduct.
	Although police said there were no civil rights arrests, a number of
youths were taken away by police after harassing the gay marchers. One
man was arrested for exposing himself in front of the group.
	At one point a smoke bomb was set off near the marchers, but no
injuries were reported.
	``It was scary and exhilarating at the same time,'' said Barbra Kay,
a gay march organizer. ``I was very afraid, but I was really proud to be
there.'' She said the gay group plans to march again next year, but
parade organizers disagree.
	``They were forced in here,'' said parade organizer John Hurley. 
``But it will never, ever happen again.''
	The organizers have vowed to sever all ties with the city so that
they will have exclusive rights in determining who will march in the
parade in the future. Organizers received a small amount of city money
to help with the parade planning and were allowed to use official city
letterhead for their correspondence.
	The Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Gay Pride Committee won
a court order from Superior Court Judge Hiller Zobel last week, based on
the group's First Amendment right of freedom of expression.
	``Their first amendment rights? It makes me sick,'' said City
Councillor Dapper O'Neil. ``They will never, never march in another
parade. We are going to raise our own money and control the parade.''
	``I don't think it's a day to express your sexual preference,'' said
City Councilor James Kelly of South Boston. ``This is a family day. This
is a fun day. This is a celebration.''
	City Councilor David Scondras, who is gay, praised the gay marchers.
	``We are so proud of your courage,'' Scondras said. ``You make us
proud to be lesbian, gay and bisexual.''