Originally Posted By Scutr >>Were the Gay Days started as a protest against discrimination inside Disney? Or is it just an annual event held by a gay-lesbian organisation to have fun? Are these events held at other Disney parks as well or only at WDW? << DisneyCo is very supportive of its gay employees and recognized same-sex couples by offering health benefits to their partners before many other companies did. So I doubt it was done as a protest. It was most likely organized because a large percentage of gays love Disney. (and the parks) "Gay Days" are also held at DL every year.
Originally Posted By Scutr >>ORDDU: I know what you mean, dear. I prefer my men without shirts on, too.<< Me too! Where's Tarzan when ya need 'im?
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb >>> Someone posted a video of the Country Bear Jamboree, why was that attraction chosen as a meet up?<<< Here in the states, larger manly men gays are called bears, so CBJ was the perfect place to meet.
Originally Posted By dagobert Thanks you all for answering my questions. Good to know that TWDC is such a supportive company!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "So I doubt it was done as a protest." I agree, however there is a clear political statement in being "out" en masse at an iconic vacation destination like Disneyland. I searched the googles for a history of Gay Days Orlando and found this: <a href="http://www.gaydays.com/History/history.html" target="_blank">http://www.gaydays.com/History...ory.html</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert Thanks for the link. Very interesting, especially the fact that photographers tried to take pictures of misconduct.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I know Hans, you are right. One year they had the very excellent Disco Very Land - that was a hoot.
Originally Posted By danyoung >DisneyCo is very supportive of its gay employees and recognized same-sex couples by offering health benefits to their partners before many other companies did.< As I recall, Disney was the last of the major entertainment companies to give gay partners health benefits, and they did it kicking and screaming. I'm not saying anything one way or another with this - just recalling history as I remember it.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1995-10-07/news/mn-54276_1_partner-benefits" target="_blank">http://articles.latimes.com/19...benefits</a>
Originally Posted By Scutr >>As I recall, Disney was the last of the major entertainment companies to give gay partners health benefits, and they did it kicking and screaming. I'm not saying anything one way or another with this - just recalling history as I remember it<< >><a href="http://articles.latimes.com/19...benefits<<" target="_blank">http://articles.latimes.com/19...<<</a> But that's Hollywood. I remember when they did that but at that time here in the REAL world outside of La-La Land most corporations, not to mention state-run government offices, did not (and some STILL do not) extend those benefits to same-sex couples.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: At least it's not as bad in your world as it is in Morva. We don't get ANY benefits here--regardless of who you are, what you are or WHY you are! The Horned King thinks we oughtta just consider it a benefit to still be alive!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<But that's Hollywood. I remember when they did that but at that time here in the REAL world outside of La-La Land most corporations, not to mention state-run government offices, did not (and some STILL do not) extend those benefits to same-sex couples.>> Yes, I think at times Southern Californians tend to forget just how different their world is from the world that the rest of us live in.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip No, it's not. Try living in SW Missouri... it is TOTAL culture shock even coming from Minneapolis. I can't imagine what it would be like coming from LA. You can say "What crap" all you want, but it doesn't make it true. But of course you left-coasters know everything, so I should probably bow to your superior knowledge.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder ". But of course you left-coasters know everything, so I should probably bow to your superior knowledge." My point is, of course, is this generalizing about Southern California and the derogatory "la la land" references, flat out saying living here is not the REAL world. That is indeed, CRAP. Rest assured, it's sadly very real out here. Assumptions made by people who don't spend much time here.
Originally Posted By Scutr >>Assumptions made by people who don't spend much time here.<< I used to live in Los Angeles that entitles me to make comparisons. How much time have you spent living elsewhere?
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Our attitudes may largly be different than the bible belt, but that doesn't make So Cal not the real world. We have to work hard to make it, just like anywhere else, harder even because the cost of living is so high.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Yes, I think at times Southern Californians tend to forget just how different their world is from the world that the rest of us live in." I think there is some truth to this, at least from a political point of view. In fact I say this all the time about the liberal Bay Area where, depending on what community you live in, it's not uncommon to see public nudity or smell pot while taking a stroll through the park.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Our attitudes may largly be different than the bible belt, but that doesn't make So Cal not the real world. We have to work hard to make it, just like anywhere else, harder even because the cost of living is so high.>> I never said that living in Southern California was "easy". Heck... had it been affordable who wouldn't rather live there the here??? It's just that the "reality" there is very different, just as it was in Minneapolis. In Minnesota people considered me to be moderate to slightly conservative. Here people think I'm a freaking Socialist! I never DREAMED there were areas in the U.S. that were so totally dominated by conservative thought as what I find here. Yes, in many ways life here is "easy". The cost of living here is VERY low. I currently live in the largest house I've ever owned... purchased for less than HALF the price that I sold my house in Minnesota for! That is one of the major reasons I decided to retire here. But the pervasive conservatism (the Republican candidate for president took more than 70% of the vote in the last two elections) found here is something totally new to me.
Originally Posted By fkurucz "Yes, in many ways life here is "easy". The cost of living here is VERY low." Ah, but what are the local wages? It might be easy for a retired Minnesota public employee who showed up with a suitcase full of money from the house he sold up north, but what is it like for the locals? Are there any non "Lucky Ducky" jobs.
