…Guinness [part of Diageo] said…it would not participate in New York City's St. Patrick's Day parade…because gay and lesbian groups had been excluded, costing organizers a key sponsor of the annual event…The move came on the same day that Boston's Irish-American mayor skipped that city's…parade after failing to hammer out a deal with organizers to allow…gay and lesbian activists to march openly…"Guinness has a strong history of supporting diversity and being an advocate for equality for all. We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year's parade," the brewer said…"As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation….”…[Two] other major beer companies, Sam Adams brewer Boston Beer Co and Heineken dropped their sponsorship…over the issue…