Boston Beer, maker of Samuel Adams, has announced they will no longer support the St. Patrick's Day Parade due to their exclusion of LGBT groups.

Gay rights organization MassEquality met with South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, the organizers of the parade, to make their case for the inclusion of LGBT veterans. Organizers, however, were opposed to the veterans' desire to carry banners displaying their sexual orientation. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and congressman Stephen Lynch attempted to aid discussions but to no avail.

"We were hopeful that both sides of this issue would be able to come to an agreement that would allow everyone, regardless of orientation, to participate in the parade. But given the current status of the negotiations, we realize this may not be possible," Boston Beer Co. said in a statement. "We share these sentiments with Mayor Walsh, Congressman Lynch and others and therefore we will not participate in this year's parade."

The AWVC said they are not against LGBT groups, but felt that MassEquality was "using a ploy to enter this parade under false pretenses."

"We will not allow anyone to express harmful or inappropriate messages," said the AWVC in a statement. "This was a decision we made for the good of this parade. Keep in mind, we are approached by all types of groups. Some of which try to destroy the integrity of not only this parade, but our faith, this town and our Country. And to those we say, 'No!, stay home, Not in my town.'"

Samuel Adams is one of a number of sponsors who have now pulled from Boston's parade. The St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York is also being boycotted by Mayor Bill De Blasio for its exclusion of LGBT veterans.

Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 16.

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