Gay Days At Disneyland

Gay Days at Disneyland

Introduction

Florida Orlando’s Gay day celebration is usually held in the first week of the month of October. It was at first a one day celebration at its conception in 1991 but it now goes for the whole week. It is a celebration in which gays and lesbians congregate to have fun. The club comprises of thousands of people from all nations of different races ages, beliefs and different community sectors who fund the function. The LesBiGay community encourages all its members to wear red so as to be seen by others as they visit the world most beautiful and popular theme park. It is therefore a symbol of belonging and identity.

The celebrations held ones in a year has been the center of tourist attraction in both Orlando and Florida. Businesses make booming business during this period; such as hotel industry, the entertainment industry and general transport sector among others. The activities held during these festivities include cocktail soirees, visiting the parks, concerts and having international parties. The event is hosted by over three thousands attendees and this year, the number is likely to increase. This is because since the start of Gay Days at Walt Disney World by Doug Swallow and his followers, it was initially a group of fifteen to twenty people but now the number has risen from 135, 000 in 2003 which boosted an estimate of over one hundred million dollars into the economy.

This visits to the magic kingdom have however been criticized by religious groups dooming it as evil. The Christian Action Network and the American Family Association have condemned the activities that go on during the festivities. First and foremost is the encouragement of children from all ages to attend the event, yet what goes on depict sexual pervertness like kissing in public between people of the same sex. The gay Day officials and Disney World Company have

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however denied the attack claiming to be a vacation of simply having fun; with no more or less.

Methodology

This paper will look into the reasons as to why Disneyland accepts these festivities but does not make them official. It will also try to answer what other benefits Disneyland gains apart from making money out of it. Five sources of materials will be used in this research. The five sources dwell on the fact that Walt Disney Company gains more from only money in hosting Gay Day Events at the Parks in Orlando and Florida. They also explain why the events are never made official.

1. News       brief from the Cutting Edge (1998) Christian families; “60,000 gays        and

lesbians find it a small world at Disney. By Brad Reuters, Detroit press. Retrieved from http://w ww.detnews.com/1997/nation/9706/09/06090056.htm

On 18th February 2010

The web says that since the group conception in 1991, Gay days have survived public indifference and criticism but despite all, the events have emerged both as a survivor and a winner. It further praises the event has having boosted the tourist sector as well as hotel and motel industry. The event refusal to die is due to its yearly expansion.

The gay community marketing tool is through its web GayDays.com which was established in 1998. It became fully recognized in 1999 in the cultural calendar and Central Florida tourism

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which currently makes it a member of Visit Florida- a state tourism agency. GayDays.com is also a member of the Metropolitan Business Association and a member of International lesbians and gay travel association (IGLTA) with the ability to sell registered traveling permits into the state of Florida.

The main goal of the event according to the website is simply to have fun and was meant to provide the homosexual with a sense of identity and commonality.

Concerning Disney the article acknowledges that they have access to the company’s management but does not sponsor or support the gay community. The two have worked together in ensuring the Gay Days do not turn into a political event. Gay Days in the park only aim at providing a wonderful idea for all people to enjoy life and it (Disney) provides all official – unofficial aspects during the event such as being the information center, recreation and hotel rooms.

These events are however made unofficial by Disney because no other group is given permit to operate its activities in the park. This is because Gay Days are incorporated into Disney’s yearly schedule of events hence this doesn’t mean it is official. If it were official, then the entire park could be rented by the gay community which is not part of Disney’s Operating Policy.

1. Pete Werner, DIS Founder/ Webmaster (2010) “Why I am not going to Gay Days this year”. Retrieved from,

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-gay-days.htm.

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On 18th February 2010

Pete Warner is a forty two year old gay who lives in Orlando. He has severally attended gay days which in the beginning seemed much more decent as compared to the recent years. This year however, he is planning not to attend the event for reasons that have made him bit his lips

…. He is also warning families all over the world who want to visit the magic Kingdom to totally avoid the park from the first Saturday of June for the theme will be totally different. He specifically warns parents with child not to visits the park on this particular period so as to avoid embarrassing situations.

Being gay himself, he totally disagrees with the activities that go on during these events. He is saddened by the fact that what was once a meaningful group of lesbians and gays is now deformed into a spectacle of indecency and extreme self indulgence. This is because he likes to think that he was raised with a pretty good sense of decency to know what is good and what is bad. And more so he believes that there is a place and time for everything for he is against public display of affection (PDF) as he has witnessed during the Gay Days. He is also totally against parents whether gay or straight who encourage their children to witness such indecencies during the period.

On the issue of Disneyland, he states that it does not openly discourage or promote the event. Its policy is based on equality whether straight or gay. It is a place where for a while reality is suspended and that anyone is liberal to air and practice his or her political agenda. This means that what happens outside Disneyland should be left out side Disneyland and let Disneyland be itself. Disney land offers lodgings, hotel services; transportation like the Disney Cruise Line and restaurants services to the visitors of this events every year (Werner, 2010)

In my opinion, Pete Warner avoids telling the truth of the role of Disney Company in the homosexual events. Being the founder, Webmaster as Gay he might be criticized by his followers as being a betrayer so he prefers the truth to lie low.

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1. News       brief from the Cutting Edge (1998) Christian families; “60,000 gays        and

lesbians find it a small world at Disney. By Brad Reuters, Detroit press. Retrieved from http://w ww.detnews.com/1997/nation/9706/09/06090056.htm

On 18th February 2010.

This is a report on christiamn families and their children who chose to visit the park without knowing that it was a gay day of 2008. These families reaction was that of shock and embarrassment amidst over sixty thousand gays and lesbians in the park. They were exposed to disgusting sin scene as the dress code were the most outlandish and explosive garb. It further reports the shameless acts displayed on this day characterized by public sex among the homosexuals. The reality in these parks goes beyond the reality in the true world where public shameless acts of pervertness are condemned by the police yet here there is absolute liberty to do what is unlawful.

The parents got traumatized in even explaining the themes painted at every Disney property like, Lesbo-a-go-go, coming out to play, muscle beach and homosexuality all in bold and capital letters. The families criticized Disneyland for encouraging homosexuality. In that, it has transformed its property from being a healthy, innocent place that helped in the stimulation of children’s imagination into a place that would condition the innocent minds of the children into appreciating homosexuality. They saw it as a silent, invisible and effective form of changing people’s minds without it being challenged.

As for Disney, the families outwardly condemned Disney Corporation for publicly lying that it had officially blessed the event for it had accepted the gay’s application to designate the Gay Days for them at the park. Disney Corporation was further accused on the account of allowing and accepting the homosexual signs to be all over the park to advertise the planed themes at the park.

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On this report other previous accusations against Disney Corporation have also been enlisted. First, in 1996 when Ellen publicly declared that she is a lesbian, one of Disney’s Companies called ABC was unusually highly rated by the public for the unprecedented event. Then ABC further released a movie on lesbian couples fighting over the custody of one of the woman’s son in court. Thirdly, two children story books which were pro-homosexual ware published by Disney titled, “Growing Up as Gay” and “Lettin’ It All Hang Out” which were authored by three comedians who are homosexuals. They aimed at breeding gay youngsters. Fourthly, leaders of Walt Disney Company like Michael Eisner (the chairman) and Michael Ovitz (president) and Joe Roth (chairman) also serve as board of trustees of Hollywood Supports. Hollywood Supports is a group that focuses on enhancing homosexual agendas such as homosexual employees groups and hold homosexual seminars. Lastly Disney has been accused of hiring Lauren Lloyd avowed lesbian to create lesbian and female movies; yet Disney officials have denied promoting homosexuality (Florida family association 2009).

The report further proposes planed action against Disney; like boycott of all its products such as movies, story books and much more because parents no longer trust Disney with their children. The article further gives examples of all crimes worthy of death penalty in the eyes of God which includes incest, bestiality, sacrificing children in religious ceremonies, homosexuality and lesbianism among others.

1. Sean Griffin (2000) Tinker Belles and evil queens: the Walt Disney Company from the inside out, NYU press publisher.

Sean Griffin uncovers the hidden mask behind Walt Disney Company which has for a longtime claimed to be part of American values of the conservatives. The author says that the company has a complex relation with the lesbian and gay community which in the recent past is becoming clearer. This book traces the history of the gay members and the company as well as both their interactions since the 1930’s. The company in earlier years used the code Mickey Mouse to mean gays later changed to Gay Nights during the 1990’s. The author further exemplifies gay culture through television series, accounts from audience who have visited Disney, the animations and themes used by Disney and merchandise provided by the company.

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In Tinker Belles and Evil Queens, Sean explores the roles played by gays and lesbians in the company. It first examines the background of earlier events in the company with accounts of the company’s sexual activism, and assertions of the company in recognizing gay’s desires and voices and also examines the early backgrounds of personnel in the studio. This is the first book to clearly give accounts of the relationship between Disney and the gay community. The author disambiguates the ways in which sexuality is expressed among lesbians and gays in relation to modern advertising and consumerism. The book portrays Disney as being sensitive to gay and lesbian audience who are influenced and exploited by the company for their strong power of buying their products and services. The author finally presents to us the strategic ways that Disney Corporate has used in influencing the society’s and the world’s definition of sexuality as seen in how audiences have co-opted products from Disney for their use (Griffin 2000)

1. Martin Mawyer, CAN President (2008) “out of the closet into the magic kingdom”. Retrieved from

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils in America/Hellivision/gayday.htm

On 18th February 2010

Martin Mawyer gives an account of his experience when he traveled to Florida and Orlando with his camera to capture in film the activities that went on in the festivities. His complied film is a shocking picture at Disney World of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Cinderella. He talks of the disappointment that a family from outside the country planning to bring the children encounters on vacation to Disneyland; only to find red-shirted homosexuals all over the place. These red T- shirts are printed ‘A day of magic….a night of pleasure”. They spend the whole

day kissing and urinating in public, folding each other and worse. During the nights the party begins in which the behaviors seen could not be described in words.

Though capturing all the events going on was risky for him, he managed to at least cover as

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much as he could. Severally, he had been warned against taking records of the events, he was thrown out by the patrons who called the police but luckily none arrived. Concerning Disney, Martin says that it is obvious Disney is hiding the sordid orgy activities carried out during the events on its property. The gay community spent an estimate of fifteen million dollars at the park in the 2003 three day event which was attended by sixty thousand to one hundred thousand homosexuals. He further states that Disney might deny sponsoring the event but evidence is clearly shown with the increasing number of red-shirted homosexuals who attend the park during the gay days. Disney when accused of sponsoring the events, the companies laughs the accusations off, condemn the event or simply ignore public claims. The writer further questions what will make Disney to stop promoting perversions and homosexuality for the photographs he has taken over the years during these events speak louder than words. He says that if one pays Disney Company a good sum of money one can do every filthy unlawful act in Disney world (Mawyer 2008).

Conclusion

Though the American Society has promoted Disney World form of entertainment of children through movies and story books, encouraging homosexuality is a slap on the face. The homosexual society claims only to be having fun as seen in the first source information of this paper, but subsequent articles clearly denote the disagreements of various people in the society with Gay Days. It is now up to the federal governments to decide the future of family culture of conservation verses permissiveness so as to act upon the role of Disney Company to GAY Days in both states- Florida and Orlando.

Reference.

Martin Mawyer, CAN President (2008) “out of the closet into the magic kingdom”.

Retrieved from

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http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils in America/Hellivision/gayday.htm

On 18th February 2010

Martin Mawyer, CAN President (2008) “out of the closet into the magic kingdom”.

Retrieved from

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils in America/Hellivision/gayday.htm

On 18th February 2010

Sean Griffin (2000) Tinker Belles and evil queens: the Walt Disney Company from the

inside out, NYU press publisher.

News brief from the Cutting Edge (1998) Christian families; “60,000 gays and

lesbians find it a small world at Disney. By Brad Reuters, Detroit press. Retrieved from http://w ww.detnews.com/1997/nation/9706/09/06090056.htm

News brief from the Cutting Edge (1998) Christian families; “60,000 gays and

lesbians find it a small world at Disney. By Brad Reuters, Detroit press. Retrieved from http://w

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ww.detnews.com/1997/nation/9706/09/06090056.htm

Pete Werner, DIS Founder/ Webmaster (2010) “Why I am not going to Gay Days this

year”. Retrieved from,

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-gay-days.htm.

On 18th February 2010

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