Originally Posted By danyoung >We went two years ago when it was Gay Days and it was trickly explaining it to the little ones. I'd prefer to avoid that if I can this year.< I have to preface my comments with the fact that I'm a 50 year old straight guy, never been married, no kids. That said, I've seen the above comment many times, and the same thought occurs to me each time. I don't understand what the problem is with kids seeing gay couples. Of course, no one wants to look at an abundance of public displays of affection, whether it's gay or straight couples. But gay folks are a fact of life, they're out of the closet, they're here to stay, and they're not something that I think kids need to be sheltered from. They need to understand that that's just the way some folks roll, and more power to 'em. Seems like the more familiar kids are with the way the world really is, the better adjusted they'll be in their difficult teen years. Just my humble opinion. . .
Originally Posted By iamgoofy So from now on when i pass a kid on the street whether in my neighborhood or at DL...i will make sure and drop a few F bombs...as this will prepare them for the teen years. It is up to a parent to choose what is right and or wrong for their child to be exposed to. I personally believe that to each his own. We all should be free to do as we wish so long as it does not affect anybody else. However, I feel that at DL which is designed for kids and kids at heart the goal should be to keep the environment akin to what one would expect to see at a church social. On a side note i will be at DL for the weekend that gay days are going on and initially i had planned on buying my parkhoppers at the gaydays website (139 for a 5 day hopper). I have since changed my mind because i do not wish to show any support for gay days at DL. If it were gaydays at a Seahawks (i live in Seattle) football game I would have no problem buying tickets to save money through the site and showing my support. But why do they have to choose an environment where so many kids are prevalent to show how proud they are to be gay. Do it elsewhere with fewer children around. I think it is a passive aggressive thing to do gay days at DL.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I'm not gay, but I am pretty sure Gay Days at DL has nothing to do with showing their pride. They are just gathering at a fun place to have a fun time, like any other group that congregates at the park.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <But gay folks are a fact of life, they're out of the closet, they're here to stay, and they're not something that I think kids need to be sheltered from> This may or may not be true depending on how you believe. My uncle was gay (I say was because he has passed away) my kids understand what gay is and that people are born that way, no big deal - but my nieces are Catholic and have been raised that it is wrong (even though their mother has a gay relative, no one mentions it, he is referred to as a bachelor). That is there choice and had we known it was Gay Days we would have either had their parents explain it or picked a different weekend. Either way we would have known what to expect. My biggest problem with being there on Gay Days (besides not knowing in advance) was simply the PDA - but like I said it bothers me if it is anyone at DL.... Act like you are at Grandma's house and everyone should be happy (gay, straight, or anything inbetween!!)
Originally Posted By sherrytodd <<<Act like you are at Grandma's house and everyone should be happy (gay, straight, or anything inbetween!!)>>> LOL, my Grandma was the one who took you to Vegas when each of us turned 21.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Okay - how about great grandma!! Biker day sounds fine....Maybe then my hubby would go - although he would just spend the day admiring all the HOGS!!
Originally Posted By junglejoy I feel like I need to defend myself so here goes. I have a brother who is gay. My kids know him, love him, love his partner, etc. We have no problem with that. It is the behaviour I saw that weekend - PDA, flamboyant, over-stated that bothered me. My kids were shocked three times - extremely so. I think we should be warned so that those of us who don't want to be around that don't have to be. I didn't say do away with the weekend, just let those of us who don't want to be around it know when it is so we don't have to be exposed to it. So glad you prefaced your statement Dan Young because it excuses all of your biases? I think you're being a little judgemental.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <They need to understand that that's just the way some folks roll, and more power to 'em. Seems like the more familiar kids are with the way the world really is, the better adjusted they'll be in their difficult teen years.> So it shouldn't be up to the parents to decide how and when their kids should be exposed to this?!?!? I thought that was MY job, to raise my kids, my mistake I should have just been taking them to DL for assorted days (gay,straight,druggy...or any other days out of ordinary life in my house) to be educated on the "real" world! My kids know what gay is along with straight - I believe it is up to the families to decide what to expose their kids to...Should DL have a Addiction day so my kids know what addicts look like - of course not!!! Don't cancel the event just let us know about it and let us make our own choice.
Originally Posted By iamgoofy Absolutely... As i said i am going to be at DL on gaydays and wish i had known prior to planning my vacation that i was going during this time. If i knew my family and i would have chosen some other dates.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd <<<Okay - how about great grandma!!>>> Oh yeah, Great Grandma would smack you upside the head with a spoon if you got out of line. Guess it's how my Grandma became such a rebal. She's the most incredible woman. When her husband turned violent toward her, she left him and raised the five kids on her own. She worked as a waitress until she was 80, but she fell and broke her wrist and couldn't work anymore. Part of the workman's comp included vocational training, so she used it to go back to college and take some computer classes. She was always a person to do things herself, whether it was sewing clothes for the kids or remodeling the bathroom. Everyone in my family says I take after her and I take that as the biggest complement. Now having experienced gay days many times with my son, the only issue I had was that it does make the park more crowded at a slow time of year. Other then that the only really over the top behavior was from a couple of people from a church group who were yelling at people. As for PDA, I agree that making out is in bad taste regardless of sexual orientation, but we did not see any of that. All we saw was hand holding, hugging or arms around each other.
Originally Posted By doombuggy Then you must have a prob with gay day at Wild Waves/Enchanted Village as well. And using the F word and seeing 2 men or women kiss are no where near the same thing. "I personally believe that to each his own. We all should be free to do as we wish so long as it does not affect anybody else" But yet you think they should not allow gays in the park simply because you don't like it. THAT is affecting someone else of their right to freedom to be who they are. And when gay pride rolls around do you go and tell parents with kids to stay off the streets cause they may see guys kissing <GASP> And have you forgotten that gay pride in Seattle has been held at the Space needle center the past 2 years? A place made for families. Heres a cold hard fact, Disney is a very big gay supporter. Now they don't promote gay days mind you but they believe in the rights of all. "I feel that at DL which is designed for kids and kids at heart" You couldn't be more wrong. Walt made the park so Parents and their kids could have fun together and MANY gay couples have kids. " the goal should be to keep the environment akin to what one would expect to see at a church social." Ever been to a gay chruch social? "i had planned on buying my parkhoppers at the gaydays website (139 for a 5 day hopper). I have since changed my mind because i do not wish to show any support for gay days at DL. If it were gaydays at a Seahawks (i live in Seattle) football game I would have no problem buying tickets to save money through the site and showing my support." And the gay community thanks you for your support when it suites you to save a few bucks. And by the way....KIDS GO TO BALL GAMES TOO!!!!!!!!!!
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <But yet you think they should not allow gays in the park simply because you don't like it. THAT is affecting someone else of their right to freedom to be who they are. And when gay pride rolls around do you go and tell parents with kids to stay off the streets cause they may see guys kissing <GASP> And have you forgotten that gay pride in Seattle has been held at the Space needle center the past 2 years? A place made for families. Heres a cold hard fact, Disney is a very big gay supporter. Now they don't promote gay days mind you but they believe in the rights of all.> No one said it should be canceled just listed on the calender, as to let each person make their own decision on when they want to visit... Not sure how The Gay Pride Parade is handled in Seattle or any other event up there...But I live near SF and the Parade is a huge deal here - but guess what it is listed on the city calendar and advertised on TV, so I as a parent can decide if I want to go to SF during the Parade or not...It is given the same attention as any other event, or it is up to me as the parent to go or not... I applaud the Disney for supporting any and all groups of people - but if it was topless days at DL I wouldn't take my kids either! All we want is Disney to list large events like this or Bat's Day, Bikers Day, or even the days where they have the Cheerleading competitions, music days, or any other event that adds to the amount of visitors expected during that season....
Originally Posted By sherrytodd I do think that it would be nice if somewhere you could find a listing of events (Disney sponsered or not). We showed up on the CHOC walk which I whole-heartedly support. But it did make the crowds larger then normal, and had we known we probably would have done something different that day. I have fun on Gay Days and meet lots of neat people, but it would be nice to know ahead of time that the crowd level will be higher then normal. I am wishing that one year I will be able to make it for Bat Days.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<All we want is Disney to list large events like this or Bat's Day, Bikers Day, or even the days where they have the Cheerleading competitions, music days, or any other event>> In my mind they would have to list all the events, so as not to appear discriminatory.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd But, in retrospect, I seriously doubt that Disney would publicize the large events as it would disuade people from coming to the parks and would mean less money for Disney.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo Yep, I got caught by surprise by "cheerleader day" one time. **shudder** I would prefer to know in advance about any particularly large groups expected. I don't want to be there during dumb blonde day, Arachnaphile's Day, old-people-who-move-really-slow-day, or High School Musical Singalong Day. However, if they have a combined Gay/Goth/Cheerleader day, I might go just to see it.
Originally Posted By iamgoofy But yet you think they should not allow gays in the park simply because you don't like it. Did I say that? No not what I said. What I said is gay people do not need a gayday at DL. Be as gay as you want I just don’t want my nose rubbed in it. I think gays choose the most visible family oriented places to make a statement, thus passive aggressive. Gay people have every right to be guy just keep it to yourself. I don’t go around exclaiming I am heterosexual, heterosexual, heterosexual. Jeeze gay people get over yourself you are not that important. As I am not that important. You couldn't be more wrong. Walt made the park so Parents and their kids could have fun together and MANY gay couples have kids. I disagree with gay people having kids as does nature. If gay people could give birth then I guess it would be okay. Whether you believe in God or not gay people cannot have children for a reason. Ever been to a gay chruch social? No nor would I. Gay is an abomination to God. Not sure I believe in God but the two contradict each other as stated in the bible. And the gay community thanks you for your support when it suites you to save a few bucks. And by the way....KIDS GO TO BALL GAMES TOO!!!!!!!!!! But ball games are not specifically designed as a family environment.
Originally Posted By Tiggirl ^ Agreed... and that makes it not very feasible. They'd also have to list every company having their party there as well and I have to imagine that would clutter up the calendar quite a bit to show all that. I do think its strange that some people seem to have seem so much lewd behavior. I've been to the park during Gay Days multiple times and all I was was a whole lot of red shirts, hand holding and a few kisses. I didn't see anything offensive. Or at least that I consider offensive. Noting worse than a regular day (which by the way has probably almost as many gay visitors... just not all in red). It makes me wonder what it is that people are seeing that is so offensive and it they're overly sensitive or if I've just missed all the excitement. LOL! ~Beth
Originally Posted By Tiggirl Sorry... my above agreement was to trekkeruss's comment <<In my mind they would have to list all the events, so as not to appear discriminatory.>>
Originally Posted By trekkeruss So are you saying if gays had a Gay Day at a Mariners game, that would be okay? Or is it still a pride thing, and not ok?
