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Mummers pledge to do better next year

This year’s showboating of racism and transphobia at the Mummers Parade was perhaps no different than any other year. Except now the Mummers seem scared.

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This year’s showboating of racism and transphobia at the Mummers Parade was perhaps no different than any other year. But now — with no small thanks to social media — the backlash seems swifter and more forceful than ever.

Newly inaugurated Mayor Jim Kenney condemned Finnegans New Years Brigade for its skit mocking Caitlyn Jenner to the tune of “Dude Looks Like A Lady.” There was also the one strutter who was clearly caught yelling “f*ck the gays” on camera.

Columnists flogged everything from the shameless displays of brownface to the broadcast media’s complicity by refusing to call it out on air. There’s even a Twitter account dedicated to banning Finnegan's N.Y.B.

On Sunday, the Mummers organizers (including FNYB), issued the following apology:

On areas of concerns raised by the public and officials in the parade, the leaders of the 5 traditional Mummers Divisions have issued the following statement. We, the Presidents of the 5 traditional Mummers Divisions, categorically reject expressions of hate and bigotry. That negative behavior and expression has no place in a parade that celebrates family, working people and the hopes for the New Year, and in a parade that has come to represent the City of Philadelphia. We hope that people realize that the vast majority of thousands of Mummers put forth entertaining and family-oriented productions. The few who violated the spirit of the community do not represent the majority. However,even a handful are too many. Therefore, we will continue to educate and to promote inclusivity and cultural awareness.

Here are the provisions they've outline for the coming years, in addition to the "discussions and steps taken in recent years."

  1. We make clear that we vocally condemn any expressions of hate.

  2. We pledge full cooperation with legal or government authorities looking into these areas of concern.

  3. On the matter of the Mummer Comic tradition of satire and poking fun at pop culture, we will continue dialogue with Mummers about sensitivity and with non-Mummers about the Mummer tradition of humor and what can be accepted as freedom of expression and what is over the line.

  4. We commit to educate and embrace inclusivity.

  5. For any ethnic theme performed by a club, it will be required that the club have as advisors and/or participants members of that ethnicity to guarantee respect. These names will be made available to Division President, and to the media upon request.

  6. We establish “Love the Mummers-Love the City” as a conduit for education of Mummers and non-Mummers and to bring the city closer together through inclusion in the parade of people from all walks of life and neighborhoods.

  7. We will continue dialogue with community representatives and the City of Philadelphia and are beginning new discussions on issues of awareness, sensitivity, community standards and inclusion.

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