As much as Boston and New York City rival each other in the athletic arena, the two major cities have much in common. On Monday, deliciously dark Irish beer Guinness announced that it is pulling out of its sponsorship of NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on the grounds that the procession excludes LGBT organizations from marching, much like Sam Adams did in Boston.

Boston-based beer Sam Adams also denounced its sponsorship of the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade. One South End restaurant event went as far as to boycott Sam Adams, refusing to sell the local brew as a protest of its involvement.

The Allied War Veterans Council, organizers of Boston’s St. Paddy’s parade, continues to hold true to its traditional rules that organizations and marchers refrain from flying banners or wearing clothes that advocate for a political cause.

According to NBC New York, the Big Apple’s parade, similar to Boston’s, has “come under fire from the gay and lesbian community for not allowing members of the LGBT community to identify as gay, though they are allowed to march.”

Said the company in a statement via NBC New York, “We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year’s parade. As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a native to neighboring Cambridge, will not march in the parade as a show of solidarity with the LGBT community. The same happened here in Boston as Mayor Marty Walsh also refused to participate.

Heineken also withdrew its sponsorship of the NYC parade. A Heineken representative told CNBC on Friday, “We believe in equality for all. We are no longer a sponsor of Monday’s parade.”