Disney often receives flak for not featuring gay or lesbian characters in their leading movie titles, games, etc. This can often make things difficult when you’re a gay parent and you want to introduce your child to very real issues and themes in a way they can readily identify with. Disney is working their way into the LGBT community one step at a time with Disney Gay Days which you may or may not have heard about.
Did you know about Gay Days at Disney World?
It may have started on accident but thankfully Disney is doing nothing to stop it and it’s getting bigger and bigger every year despite unfavorable (but honestly pretty typical) reactions from many U.S. churches.
It started in 1991 when a group of 3,000 gays and lesbians from Florida decided that they were going to make a trip to Disney World. They really painted the town red that day and each Gay Day since. To show solidarity, attendees in the know would wear red T-shirts specifically for the event.
According to TIME Magazine by 1995 on Gay Day there were 10,000 gays and lesbians there wearing red to celebrate the occasion. Since then, the event has grown in popularity and has become an official Pride Month Event.
Why Disney World?
Straight of Gay Disney is a magical place. Specifically, for many gays around the world, their childhood or an aspect of their childhood may have been taken away in one form or another. Maybe as children many were forced to align with gender roles they weren’t comfortable with and this is a way to reclaim some lost part of growing up. Most importantly, in a time when more and more children have same-sex parents, Gay Day at Disney provides a place to talk, interact and share experiences.
It’s traditionally held on the first Saturday in June every year and a local Doubletree resort has made it their mission to be the official hotel of Disney Gay Day. If you’re thinking of going to Disney World Gay Day just might be the right time. Start planning your trip for next year, have fun, be silly, bring your family and enjoy!
To end this article off on a different note… what two straight Disney characters have you always wanted to see in a relationship together? I think Nakoma and Pocahontas have something going on and they were definitely bound to be a couple. John Smith you’re killing me.
