Comments
by Java Mann
I
am concerned about the annual Gay Days at Disney World in Orlando Florida.
Is it really necessary? This is Disney World after all, the happiest place
on earth. Could it possibly get any gayer? And if so, should it?? I dunno.
This year’s event was held
over the June 3rd weekend, and was quite a spectacle compared
to its origin. Gay Days started simply enough back in 1991 when a few gay
computer geeks on the web decided to organize a get-together and meet at
the Magic Kingdom. Their initial gathering was not greeted warmly by the
fine folks at Disney. Flyers explaining Gay Day, and warning patrons about
it, were circulated prior to the actual event. Disney was concerned about
how their patrons might feel sharing the park with a group of homosexuals.
This is rather silly, as a significant percentage of the population is
homosexual, and as such, there are homosexuals in Disney World every day.
But I digress…
Ever eager to turn a profit,
Disney has of course changed their opinions concerning homosexuals and
Gay Days. What was once an unofficial one-day get-together is now an officially
recognized four-day event complete with theme parties, gay entertainers
and dances. Gay Days have even been extended to other Disney owned theme
parks, including those that do not share the Disney name.
As in any good Disney story,
(or Fairy Tale in this case) there must be a villain. Enter the religious
right. Religious organizations have taken offense with Disney, a company
that was founded on family oriented entertainment, and its choice to allow
a gay themed gathering on its property. Boo-hoo.
Some religious groups attempted
to purchase TV time to run advertisements encouraging homosexuals to give
up the gay lifestyle. All local stations, except one religious broadcaster,
refused. The Southern Baptists have been engaged in a boycott of Disney
products for the last three years. Ironically, this year’s Southern Baptist
convention was held in Orlando during this years Gay Days festival.
Not to be out-done, the Action
Network reportedly was onhand video taping the events on Pleasure Island
(an area of the park that offers various theme nightclubs and bars) for
a presentation at this year’s Republican National convention. Having seen
live footage of Republican conventions, one must imagine anything that
might liven it up must be considered a good thing. Jane Adams, a spokesperson
for the Mouse denied any explicit behavior or wrong doings. "We have guidelines
regulating public displays of affection for everyone on any day in the
park".
I have yet to hear any substantial
stories (pro or con) concerning this year's event. I suspect it went off
without a hitch. This IS Disney after all, and they’re very good at what
they do. No protests were reported, though a few school fieldtrips were
cancelled or postponed. One foreign tourist was taken aback when he saw
two men holding hands in public. Perhaps he needs to get out more..
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