More Diverse Mummers Parade Marred by Homophobic, Racist Acts

A shocking skit in Philadelphia’s Mummers Parade stirred controversy by mocking Caitlyn Jenner, drawing scorn from politicians and others across social media.

This skit started out with a man dressed as Bruce Jenner standing in front of a Wheaties box, similar to the one Bruce was on many years ago.

Finnegan NYB’s formal performance for a panel of judges included a man dressed as Bruce Jenner changing into a woman’s outfit while Aerosmith’s “Dude Looks Like a Lady” played in the background.

Mayor-elect Jim Kenney tweeted “Our Trans Citizens do not deserve this type of satire/insult”.

Meanwhile, a New York Daily News editor videotaped a member of the Finnegan NYB shouting “F– the gays!” as he marched along Broad Street.

Inemer said he did not know whether Finnegan NYB members were involved in the incident with Holtz.

According to NBC Philadelphia, participants from a brigade called Sammar Strutters pulled what they called the “Siesta Fiesta”, where they, including children, wore ponchos and sombreros and painted their face brown.

They also held signs mocking Jenner that were described as “unacceptable” by Nellie Fitzpatrick, the city’s director of LGBT Affairs. When Holtz went to confront the group about the comment, he said, another man “jumped in, clocked me in the face”.

Holtz told the local news site he was approached by a pair of police officers who asked him if he wanted to make a report, but he declined, explaining it would be all but impossible to identify the assailants given their costumes and the sizable crowd.

Holtz believes the men who accosted him were part of the same group satirizing Jenner.

The group wasn’t the only brigade to be labeled as insensitive by some officials and paradegoers.

This event features people who dresse up in costume and perform skits. Outrageously costumed Mummers strutted their stuff Friday at the city’s annual New Year’s…

They carried the signs in the parade as about 50 protesters from representing the actual movement demonstrated on the sidewalk.

The incidents during this year’s parade occurred even after organizers created the “Philadelphia Division”, which was meant to diversify the parade with two new Hispanic performance groups, a black drill team and the LGBT Miss Fancy Brigade. “Hurtful to many Philadelphians”.

“While the Commission appreciates that Mummers’ leadership took steps for a more diverse parade, more needs to be done to end these public displays of bigotry”, she said.