Originally Posted By xzoocrew I've been to Gay Days at the Magic Kingdom. I live in Florida and a basically went to see what the annual commotion was about because as this thread shows every year Gay Days kicks up a fuss. If gays bother you don't want to attend because you will be offended by gay people holding hands, having their arms around each other and kissing each other on the lips. Did I see inappropriate behavior? Yes but no more than I see on any given day in the parks by obnoxious teenagers, bad parents with out of control children or straight people that should get a room. For those of you that will say "What if I didn't know it was happening and my children see it?" Well life is a long hard road and there are going to be lots of things to explain to them. Look at it as another chance to have a real discussion with them and instill what ever your values are in them. The world will be a very dull and unimaginative place if we are protected from never being offended, be it Christmas decorations or gay people. What would life be like if government and business made sure nothing they did or anyone they had contact with could possibly offend anyone?
Originally Posted By MrToadWildRider I was at WDWtwo years ago during the spring when there was a Gay Days meet. The Gay Days shirts or whatever the crowd was wearing was something many people would comment over - it's not the whole being gay things that in my experience and personal example get people in a tizzy, it's the shirts that say "Hey! I'm gay!! You should know that!!" There was a guy at PI though that had a shirt - the best way I can describe it was the movie the Matrix, the screen with the little green characters scrolling down. I think he even said that's what it was...but it was an actual screen sewn into his shirt with these characters scrolling down - one of the actresses at the AC turned off the lights in the showroom (library? whatever the main showroom is in AC) and you could just see the little green characters scrolling vertically downward. I thought "Wow that's pretty cool..weird but neat" - Wear shirts like that!
Originally Posted By MrToadWildRider Oh and he was gay by the way Unless he and his bud had one too many Kunglooshes and started to cuddle and kiss eachother ;-)
Originally Posted By xzoocrew MRTOADWILDRIDER, You and I were posting at the same time so I didn't read your post until after I made mine. I basically agree with all you said but it made me think this question. I have a small family and can't have children. When I go to Disney and see a group of 40 people wearing Smith Family Reunion are they being in my face or just celebrating what they have in common? I'm not trying to fight. Your post made me think and I'm just asking what you think about this.
Originally Posted By MrToadWildRider I thought about that too. It some ways I can agree they're very similar but they're still just different. The Smith Family isn't striving for equal treatment. They don't care how the general public views them or accepts them - they're just there as a family that hasn't seen eachother in a while. Sometimes I think those reunion shirts are just there to identify cousins you have never met before. It can be argued that the gay days shirts are identifiers to others attending gay days but I'd think just acting as an ordinary couple would be enough for identification purposes. Maybe there's a single gay man wandering the parks alone but I think that's what outside the park events are for. I understand that gay days is about fun in the parks but I still believe it is largely another event that is tied to the gay rights/pride movement even if unofficially. Even if it's 100% not tied to any movement it is still perceived to be and as such it should be treated as though it is. I think the organizers need to consider that. Like I said the Smiths aren't there seeking a day where they can feel equal to everyone else, because for the most part they probably already feel that way as a family is a mainstream group. What I've read here tells me many people who attend Gay Days are seeking that feeling of being equal and normal and I think that by wearing a shirt that says I'm different than mainstream society is doing the exact opposite. It's purposefully seperating themselves from everyone else purely based on sexual orientation and that's taking a step in the wrong direction. If the gay community really wants acceptance it shouldn't be driving a wedge between themselves and the heterosexual community by self-identifying as different. As I said earlier the Smiths WANT to be different - they want to be THE SMITHS not just regular tourists, do gay people want to be THE GAYS not just regular tourists? My feeling is no, probably not.
Originally Posted By MrToadWildRider I thought about that too. It some ways I can agree they're very similar but they're still just different. The Smith Family isn't striving for equal treatment. They don't care how the general public views them or accepts them - they're just there as a family that hasn't seen eachother in a while. Sometimes I think those reunion shirts are just there to identify cousins you have never met before. It can be argued that the gay days shirts are identifiers to others attending gay days but I'd think just acting as an ordinary couple would be enough for identification purposes. Maybe there's a single gay man wandering the parks alone but I think that's what outside the park events are for. I understand that gay days is about fun in the parks but I still believe it is largely another event that is tied to the gay rights/pride movement even if unofficially. Even if it's 100% not tied to any movement it is still perceived to be and as such it should be treated as though it is. I think the organizers need to consider that. Like I said the Smiths aren't there seeking a day where they can feel equal to everyone else, because for the most part they probably already feel that way as a family is a mainstream group. What I've read here tells me many people who attend Gay Days are seeking that feeling of being equal and normal and I think that by wearing a shirt that says I'm different than mainstream society is doing the exact opposite. It's purposefully seperating themselves from everyone else purely based on sexual orientation and that's taking a step in the wrong direction. If the gay community really wants acceptance it shouldn't be driving a wedge between themselves and the heterosexual community by self-identifying as different. As I said earlier the Smiths WANT to be different - they want to be THE SMITHS not just regular tourists, do gay people want to be THE GAYS not just regular tourists? My feeling is no, probably not.
Originally Posted By scottie I still think people are reading way too much into the red shirts. People are expressing themselves. It can be a different statement for different people. Some people wear the American Flag on their shirts for different personal reasons. Some of us have bumper stickers or rubber bracelets. We all could say that these means of expressions are not necessary, but for different reasons we like to express who we are and want to be able to feel proud of it. Isn't that a common human quality? Sometimes we forget on both sides that it is that freedom of expression that is more important, even if that means we have to tolerate the voice that opposes our own views.
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Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<When I see a guy with a shirt that details how much he loves women (or specific parts of their bodies) I think "What a jerk (or other not-very-nice-things)" or "How trashy" and a lot of other straight folks do too....>> Note to self... leave T-shirt offering 'Mustache Rides' at home next January. j/k ;-) LOL
Originally Posted By xzoocrew TDLFAN Said Not a good compliment for xzoocrew Hmmmm. I'll take it as a compliment. TDL you are so cheeky. Double entrande? (Crap I wish I could spell) You figure it out. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Originally Posted By patrickegan The Smiths I really doubt equate their day a DL/WDW with the civil rights movement. But then again I don’t know the Smiths personally and maybe they just want love and understanding from the rest of the world. Or the Disney thing could just be a sidebar for some high quality chicken fighting at the hotel pool!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN The Disney thingy is all about money. Regardless what the reasons are for the Gay and Lesbian community to congregate at WDW (and all over Orlando for that matter, not just Disney), the true reason why Disney lets it occur is because of the money they make off them. Trust me...the sound of cash registers at the resort will may any Disney exec gay in the heart. And stockholders too.
Originally Posted By patrickegan “Trust me...the sound of cash registers at the resort will may any Disney exec gay in the heart†LOL Maybe these same guys/girls could do something about DCA
Originally Posted By danyoung >That would be "entendre". I think.< There's a first - TDLFAN giving someone else a spelling lesson!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I think my REAL issue is that WE are all quests while we are at WDW. I don't think anyone should be rude, obnoxious or overly sexualized. When we are visiting WDW we all have to realize that its not "our" personal property. We need to demonstrate common courtecy to others in the parks. Disney can remove us for any reason. Seems to me Disney need to be exercising that a little more.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Absolutely agree and more^^^!! Let's start by removing the puerto rican CM who was extremely rude to me at Pooh's ride last year!! Back to the ghettos of the Bronx you bully! (you *know* who you are)
