Anyone encountered any anti-gay hostility-updated!

[easleygrls]

I feel better knowing that most of you haven't had any major problems! I really didn't think there would be but thought I'd ask.

Ya know, if it was just me & DP, I would either just ignore any stares or comments or give the, ahhhh, adult version of "yes I am, no you can't" (love it!!). But with DD, I feel obligated to try & be a better human being. Oh the pressure!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We get the "are you sisters" comment too. We don't even come close in looking like each other, ok? Gets old.

The CMs during the Gay Days time period seem to have on "extra nice." They are quick to smile, and greet you and warmly welcome you to whichever park you are entering/in. It's nice to have nearly a week of super pleasant service!

Guests? Well, they can be pretty ignorant sometimes, but hey, that's life, huh?

I do like skymedic's thoughts though! LOL. Sometimes I feel just like that.

We were on a Disney bus when the fat, white man behind us started to talk with his daugher (16 maybe?) about how he isn't going to go on the Ellen Degenerate ride... he kept it up and kept it up. Made for a tedious ten minute bus ride.

We were sitting on a bench in the WS when the father figure (could have been a grandfather) started lecturing his son on how bad things were in this country anymore. He went on to talk about drinking (one of us was holding a beer) and smoking (can't help there) and the "disgusting and indecent evil practices some people get up to." Staring at us, of course. We put on the total ignore and continued to talk between ourselves. When they left to board the ferry, they left behind their fairly large, and quite expensive camera bag. We brought it to the CM on the dock, who then handed it over to the grumpy man. He thanked her. She directed him to thank us. He didn't of course, but we waved and smiled. Let the son digest that.

We have younger friends (early twenties) who are the handsomest couple you'd want to see. Blonde, sweet and oh so buff. They were standing and waiting for the resort bus at the MK, when a group of four older people started gay bashing quite badly. I have to hand it to these men, young though they are, they just smiled sweetly at them the whole time. Not so sure I could have done it. THEN, stood aside to let them enter the bus first!

So yes, you may encounter ignorance and hatred. Unfortunately, Disney isn't a sanctuary from that.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Am I There Yet...

Your posts are very well put. I lurk over here every so often(haven't posted in MONTHS) just to see what's going on. We will also be down during gay days and I have no worries. I have 3 DD's. They range in age from 3-17. We're an open-minded family and I do my best to talk to my kids about ANY differences they may see in ANYONE as they grow. When my 3 yo sees 2 people of the same sex holding hands, etc. I will tell her what I tell my others: Sometimes two men or two women love each other. No biggie. Sometimes kids live with 2 mommies or 2 daddies. No biggie there either. I have no doubt she'll grow up thinking that these scenarios are perfectly normal. I don't tolerate intolerance very well. I hate that this is even an issue, period.

This is how I've raised my daughters too. They're their own people; why should I tell them how to think?

I give them enough credit to think they're intelligent enough to form their own opinions, based off of their own experiences and beliefs, without feeling the need to cram mine down their throats.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

When we go the week after Gay Days this summer we'll have DD7 in tow. Quite a different dynamic...Anyone have any thoughts?

We (DH50-me, DW46, DD19, DS16, DD15) are going at roughly the same time, June 6 - 13. We really wanted to go the week before, during Gay Days, even though the kids have final exams that week, but being rural heteros had to black out those "gay dates" so as not to expose our children to the sight of any "abominations." One look, or worse - God forbid brushing up against one of you - might just influence their orientation(I think one of televangelists said it can rub off, ya know). I would therefore request that you respect my RIGHT not to have to witness such disgusting behavior, and please refrain from any innate perverted gay displays while in our presence. Oh, and please maintain your distance.

/sarcasm

I love the several "are you sisters?" comments. If it were me in your shoes I'd probably just HAVE to reply, "Why yes! Are you two siblings, too?!"

Have a wonderful trip and don't let the slack-jaws bother you.

 

[SkyMedik]

DVC, thank you for understanding me....LOL...I thought for sure I was going to get some PM's over that....

Am_I_There_Yet....pleased to see you are married to a fellow FFer But how were you saved by cat poo?

and 4eyed, that was too funny!

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

I must have gotten lucky, as I've never had either guests or cast members say anything rude or offensive.

I will say that I feel as though the cast members are extra accomodating, never blinking an eye when we request a single king bed. (Trust me.. been there, done there.. once at a hotel in NYC we had to BATTLE with the worker who was confused with why we wouldn't want two beds.)

 

[FamilyGuy]

I took the time to read much of this thread and and see comments on other boards about gay days...

As a father of 5, I wanted to make it a point to say that I firmly believe the negative comments you may have received are truly ignorant and show the lack of respect and tolerance that can be found in society today.

Perhaps I am wrong, but I would like to believe that most people are completely comfortable and accepting of differences today - perhaps it's simply because that's what I was raised to believe and what my wife and I have raised our children to believe. There are all types of differences, not only sexual orientation, but also shape, size, skin tone/race, religion, etc between people today. The beauty of America is that we can freely be all those different things and still be equal.

Those who attempt to assert otherwise by starting, commenting, condesending, or other lame method are simply showing their own lack of self assurance and confidence.

I guess the other reason I am posting is that I made a private comment to my wife, and she made me realize that I should not make a comment that I would no be willing to make infront of someone else. Her sister (my sister-in-law) has a co-worker and very close friend who is a gay male. They are very close, someone who did not know both of them might think that are boyfriend / girlfriend. They are together now, on vacation, half way across the country. I casually said "hey, your sister makes a good *** hag." My wife glared at me as she asked why I would say that? I told her I would have no problem saying that infront of them, it's just an affectionate term. She reminded me that, though it MAY not be the case, there is a chance that he (or maybe even she) could be offended, and if so, then how would I feel? Furthermore, if I wouldn't say it infront of them (which I wouldn't reallly, without knowing that they were comfortable with it), why would I say it behind their back... Good thing the my wife helped me realized that before I said an "affectionate term" infront of them, and inturn possibly offended them!

Have fun at WDW everyone. We all deserve to have fun and not be bothered by others on our vacation!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

DVC, thank you for understanding me....LOL...I thought for sure I was going to get some PM's over that....

Am_I_There_Yet....pleased to see you are married to a fellow FFer But how were you saved by cat poo?

and 4eyed, that was too funny!

Yep! Been married to one for four years! He's going on his 13th year.

The cat poo... well, there is a cat that uses the side of our house as her personal litter box. She goes in the same spot every day.

Well, someone left our gate open and my golden, Chloe, got out. She's the daughter I never gave birth to and very special to me. Anyway, I walked to the kitchen window and noticed her out there snacking on the cat poo.

So, if it hadn't of been there, she might have kept on going, and I might have never seen her again. So, I was saved by cat poo.

Aren't you glad you asked?

 

[tiggr33]

Yep! Been married to one for four years! He's going on his 13th year.

The cat poo... well, there is a cat that uses the side of our house as her personal litter box. She goes in the same spot every day.

Well, someone left our gate open and my golden, Chloe, got out. She's the daughter I never gave birth to and very special to me. Anyway, I walked to the kitchen window and noticed her out there snacking on the cat poo.

So, if it hadn't of been there, she might have kept on going, and I might have never seen her again. So, I was saved by cat poo.

Aren't you glad you asked?

Eww, now that is a disgusting and perveted act, if I ever heard one.....

SkyMedik, I think everyone of us can relate to not wanting to stand taller.

 

[DawnM]

Personally, I am discusted by anyone who really should be "getting a room." This isn't limited to any sexual orientation. Gay or strait I think it is not appropriate at Disney.

I have only really ever encountered it at Disney with teenagers though. Most adults are restrained enough in front of little kids.

Holding hands is fine, but making out heavily, well......that is a whole different issue.

Dawn

 

[LukenDC]

Perhaps I am wrong, but I would like to believe that most people are completely comfortable and accepting of differences today - perhaps it's simply because that's what I was raised to believe and what my wife and I have raised our children to believe. There are all types of differences, not only sexual orientation, but also shape, size, skin tone/race, religion, etc between people today. The beauty of America is that we can freely be all those different things and still be equal.

I agree with you. I have never had a problem traveling at WDW and the first year I went I took my boyfriend. No problems whatsoever.

 

[madcam]

Have you ever noticed that the people who are so affronted by the homosexual community's "lack of decency" and "horrible perversions" (sarcasim) are some of the most hateful, un-Christian, *******s you will ever meet? How can we, as humans, teach tollerance and kindness if we spew such ugly, hurtful words or adopt such hostile attitudes? To all those people who are concerned about "exposing" your kids to something that you are uncomfortable with: I think it is sad and offensive that my children have to be exposed to small minded bigots who don't know how to conduct themselves in public much less think it is ok to perpetuate hate in the hearts and minds of their children. NO ONE should grope each other in public! Not gay people, not straight people. My kids would be uncomfortable and confused to see ANYONE behave that way but I garantee that they wouldn't blink an I to see people together, happy and, yes, even (gasp!) holding hands in the "Happiest Place on Earth". Sexual orientation is not contagious but hate is. I hope you have a great trip!!!!!

 

[wilde_oscar]

We are a couple of fun bear types that look like brothers and thanks to years of hanging out together have simular mannerisms. So when we get asked "are you two related" or "are you brothers" the easy answer is yes, it saves time, I am often not in the mood to educate.

Our most recent trip, Baloo was outside of AK and we stopped to get our pictures with... who ever was in the costume had to be family as from the get go there was giggleing. Other then that, there was a creepy guy hitting on me during the Great Movie Ride. It's like like we are over the top gay, but two middle aged men with no kids at Disney, no that hard to figure out. Never got a second look or comment that we noticed.

When it comes to events like Gaydays... we avoid them. There is such a thing as too gay. We did a few "gay" vacations, Toronto Pride, Southern Decedance, IML/Bear Pride Chicago. And we do not have near as much fun on "gay" vacations as we do on "go be tourists and take pictures" vacations.

**** wow my spelling and typeing on this sucked, I need more coffee.

Anyway, in ever diverse group ya get those on the edge and those that just wanna ride Soarin one more time before we go home.

 

[Ava]

My partner and I have never encountered any negative comments or hostility at WDW. Well, none that we heard at least. I tend to be kind of oblivious to the people around me, which probably serves me well, except when I miss a celebrity sighting because I just don't notice them, lol.

We did get "Are you twins?" once when we were wearing matching t-shirts, but the comment came from a little girl, maybe 8 years old or so, who was in line for the bus with us. We chatted with her and her family while we were waiting, and then she sat next to us when we got on the bus and was telling us all about the parks she'd visited and the rides she'd been on. It was cute.

 

[steven_&_daniel]

As for the "are you sisters/brothers" thing...

We used to attend a gay-friendly church which had about a dozen gay couples. The average age at this church was about 70 or 75. There was this one little old lady who was very sweet but for some reason always thought that my partner and I were brothers. The fact that there were so many other gay couples didn't seem to help her figure out that we were a couple and not brothers.

My favorite though was when we lived in an apartment for 5 years and had a neighbor who thought we were the same person. My partner worked days and I worked nights. She rarely saw the two of us together and she was a little off center to start with (if you know what I mean). She was always starting a conversion with one of us and finishing it with the other. It was too funny!

 

[kelma]

First, I just have to say how much more I've enjoyed THIS GayDays discussion than the one on the other board

I don't know if this makes you feel any better about the sibling comments, but I will say that couples often do look alike. My DH and I have been together since high school (17 years now ) and people always thought we were brother and sister. My DH loved it and would often not correct them and then inappropriately put his arm around me or whisper in my hair, or kiss me (hey we were young ). He got a ridiculous amount of joy out of doing that. People don't do it anymore now that we're in our early 30's and have kids hanging onto us everywhere we go, but I think he misses those days. I imagine that his advice would be for you to enjoy their confusion or, alternately, have a few kids - worked for us

Kelma

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Hi all! I have a question about how I should handle my DS.

We were at WDW during gay days last year and we'll be there again this year. DS has been raised to believe that people love who they love and that it's ok to be who you are. Still, even though I know he knows this, he still found the few gay PDAs we saw very amusing and I'm embarassed to say that there was definitely some staring and giggling going on. He was 12. I don't want him to embarass himself or anyone else, but at the same time I don't want to make a bigger deal out of it than necessary.

Advice?

 

[Chuck S]

Hi all! I have a question about how I should handle my DS.

We were at WDW during gay days last year and we'll be there again this year. DS has been raised to believe that people love who they love and that it's ok to be who you are. Still, even though I know he knows this, he still found the few gay PDAs we saw very amusing and I'm embarassed to say that there was definitely some staring and giggling going on. He was 12. I don't want him to embarass himself or anyone else, but at the same time I don't want to make a bigger deal out of it than necessary.

Advice?

Truthfully, he's 12, that's kind of what 12 years olds do. Sort of like the "Ewwwwwww" factor when they see a hetero couple hold hands or kiss. 12 years olds are walking embarrassment factories. I guess it has to do with them becoming "aware" of their own feelings and sexuality.

 

[rwrocksme]

Truthfully, he's 12, that's kind of what 12 years olds do. Sort of like the "Ewwwwwww" factor when they see a hetero couple hold hands or kiss. 12 years olds are walking embarrassment factories. I guess it has to do with them becoming "aware" of their own feelings and sexuality.

i think that even after the whole "ewww!" stage, PDAs of any kind are gross. there is only one place anyone, gay or straight, teen or adult, should make out, and that's on Tommorrowland Transit Authority, when you go through Space Mountan and it's all dark.

Actually, that might be fun...

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

i think that even after the whole "ewww!" stage, PDAs of any kind are gross. there is only one place anyone, gay or straight, teen or adult, should make out, and that's on Tommorrowland Transit Authority, when you go through Space Mountan and it's all dark.

Actually, that might be fun...

I'll never look at that ride the same way again.