There has been a change in leadership for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, which continues to face criticism for its handling of LGBT groups looking to march.

Longtime vice chair John Leahy has been appointed as the new chairman of the parade, replacing John Dunleavy.

Leahy was instrumental in inviting a gay group to march in this year's parade and is being authorized to add a second LGBT group for 2016.

The 76-year-old Dunleavy fiercely opposed letting gay groups march.

J.F. Mulligan, a spokesperson for the group "Irish Queers," said he's glad Dunleavy is gone but isn't happy that Leahy is replacing him.

"He's been involved in the parade committee. He was the grand marshal in 1997, when he refused to meet with LGBT groups around this issue and the parade and the exclusion of us," Mulligan said.

Irish Queers is also not happy that only one LGBT group could be added to the parade because it says many groups have applied.

The group OUT NBC Universal became the first LGBT group to march in the parade this year.