Dollywood dress code

[MM27]

So what do you think? I support gay marriage, and I believe that we should have the right to express ourselves, however, a private company has the right to sensor what they deem to be inappropriate when you are on their property. I just hope they follow their policy across the board and not just for certain groups.

http://search.abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8274800

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A lesbian couple is asking for changes at Dollywood after an employee asked one of the women to turn her T-shirt reading "marriage is so gay" inside-out to avoid offending others on a recent visit to the Tennessee theme park complex.


Olivier Odom and Jennifer Tipton said Tuesday they want the park to be more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families after Odom was asked to reverse her shirt when they visited Dollywood Splash Country next to the Pigeon Forge amusement park. The story was first reported by WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens said on Tuesday that Dollywood is open to all families, but their dress code policy is to ask people with clothing or tattoos that could be considered offensive to change clothes or cover up.

Owens said the couple was not asked to leave and complied with the rules to reverse the shirt when asked.

"The park is open every day to everybody," Owens said. "We try to provide an environment for families of all shapes and sizes to enjoy themselves.

Owens said park officials were discussing the matter and would speak with the couple directly.

Odom said that they visited the water park July 9 with friends and their friends' two children when she was asked by a person at the front gate to turn her shirt inside out because it was a family park.

Odom said she complied so as not to make a scene in front of the children, but felt offended.

"That's what we found so offensive - that he said it was a family park," Tipton said. "Families come in a wide range of definitions these days and we were with our family."

The two said they felt they needed to file a complaint with Dollywood because they believed it was important to stand up for their beliefs in marriage equality.

"If marriage equality is going to happen, it's not going to happen if people sit at home quietly," Odom said.

Odom said they understand the park can have dress code policies, but she felt Dollywood needed to make their policies clear and provide better training for employees when determining what is considered offensive.

Odom and Tipton are not legally married, but held a ceremony last year in North Carolina. They wrote an email to the park asking the park "to implement policies that are inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; conduct staff sensitivity training; and issue a public statement indicating that the park is inclusive of all families."

Owens said the couple's complaints have sparked discussion at the park about the dress code, a policy that park employees deal with frequently because of the thousands of visitors every year.


(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

[dngnb8]

Their property, their Right.

People have the Right not to go there. If they make this choice, knowing they will lose business/profit, then that is up to them.

 

[ICF]

IMO, the person that wore the shirt was looking for attention and that's what she is getting. You dont wear that type of shirt in an attempt to blend into the crowd.

The park can set their rules and enforce them. All she had to do was reverse the shirt, it's not like they kicked her out or anything.

 

[Buckalew11]

This has been the policy for years. My DH, mom, and dad have all worked at Dollywood.

G/L shirts were not an issue though--it was more of the ones with bad language etc.

I dunno...Dolly has a huge G/L following. I wonder about this one... I doubt Dolly herself agrees with this one. Might be interesting.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Meh, I guess it depends on how ya view the word gay, "that's so gay" is often used as a pejorative, kinda like a few other choice names for gay folks.

I figure Dollywood is probably inclusive of all families 'n would like to preserve a family friendly environment, no need for anyone to wear a T-shirt slurrin' gays, even if ya are gay.

 

[ChattaAlley]

 

[design_mom]

I agree that I think it probably has more to do with the play on words about something being "so gay." Since using the phrase "that's so gay" is usually considered derogatory and homophobic.

I wonder if the shirt was less edgy -- something like "We Support Gay Marriage" -- if there would be any problem. I tend to doubt it.

I agree with the poster who said they thought the wearers were looking for attention. I would say that "edgy" slogans probably do not belong in a family theme-park, regardless of the subject matter.

 

[Goofyluver]

I love Wanda Sykes and what she has to say on the subject...

I have some pretty great t-shirts myself. I'm not looking for attention for me, I'm usually lookin' to call you to YOUR attention...

 

[dfchelbay]

If I read that shirt..."Marriage is so gay", I would find it offensive. I support gay marriage, but just walking by someone wearing that shirt, my first thought would be that the shirt is a slur against marriage and not a shirt in support of gay marriage. It would read the same to me as...Red pants are so gay, baseball is so gay, Disboards are so gay, snail mail is so gay, etc. If the shirt was worn at a gay marriage rally, march, parade, etc. I would see it as intended, but in everyday, run of the mill walk of life...not so much.

 

[ChattaAlley]

[/URL][/IMG]

My friend has this shirt. I think its hilarious but it is stating something both obvious and about the person wearing it not about gays or marriage in general. I think the other shirt is stupid. IMO.

 

[Uncle Remus]

[/URL][/IMG]

My friend has this shirt. I think its hilarious but it is stating something both obvious and about the person wearing it not about gays or marriage in general. I think the other shirt is stupid. IMO.

Like this one at Capital Pride:

 

[ChattaAlley]

Haha..yes. That one is funny also.

 

[crusoe2]

I have nothing against gays or gay marriage but I do take issue with people choosing what is supposed to be a family-friendly atmosphere to speak out for gay rights. My 8yo, like many others her age, doesn't know anything about sex or gay-anything yet. But seeing edgy tee shirt slogans that she doesn't understand will most likely lead to questions and waiting in line for an amusement park ride isn't where I want to have that conversation. I think that I have the right to choose the time and place for that and my child certainly has the right to learn about this subject in private.

So, while I support gay marriage, I think that the Dollywood employee did the right thing. That just isn't the time or the place.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I agree that DollyWood was right, and that these women are getting just what they set out for.

Using DollyWood to make a political statement about sexual orientation...

However, I am wondering about DollyWoods actual policy, and how specific it is. I think that in order to cover their behind, they need something MUCH more specific than 'reserves the right to ban any clothing that may be considered offensive'....

That is TOO subjective, and leaves the door for this type of situation wide open.

And, the policy needs to not only be specific, but also be very, very, fair on both sides of any issue.

I can guarantee you that at DollyWood, on any given weekend, especially Sunday afternoon, you would see loads of Christian T-Shirts... Well, couldn't that be 'offensive' to any non-Christian guests????

DollyWood needs to be VERY specific in their policy about what kind of words, images, etc.. will be banned. And, again, it needs to be very fair and non-biases. In other words, they shouldn't ban the word 'GAY' unless they ban 'any T-shirt that has a reference to sexual orientation (of any persuasion).

Something tells me that this is not the case.. Don't know, as I haven't really been following too closely or looked anything up... But, I suspect if there was language in their policy that was that clear, they would have issued a copy of this to the press, and nothing would be left for discussion.

 

[Sydnie]

I don't like "XXX is so gay" being used as a pejorative. If her shirt just said something like "2 people + Love = Marriage" or something else benign I think it would be fine.

I am a huge supporter of gay rights and gay marriage but I don't think Dollywood was wrong in this case.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I have nothing against gays or gay marriage but I do take issue with people choosing what is supposed to be a family-friendly atmosphere to speak out for gay rights. My 8yo, like many others her age, doesn't know anything about sex or gay-anything yet. But seeing edgy tee shirt slogans that she doesn't understand will most likely lead to questions and waiting in line for an amusement park ride isn't where I want to have that conversation. I think that I have the right to choose the time and place for that and my child certainly has the right to learn about this subject in private.

So, while I support gay marriage, I think that the Dollywood employee did the right thing. That just isn't the time or the place.

I'm all in favor of you havin' that conversation in the grocery store check out lane then coz any place someone wants to promote equal marriage/gay rights is alright with me. I live in America!

I just don't agree that "Marriage is so gay" actually promotes equal marriage.

 

[Magpie]

I love Wanda Sykes and what she has to say on the subject...

I have some pretty great t-shirts myself. I'm not looking for attention for me, I'm usually lookin' to call you to YOUR attention...

Hey, thanks for the link! I hadn't seen that PSA before. My daughter thought it was cool, too.

 

[Buckalew11]

Dollywood has church on Sundays in the little church in the park. Employees and guests can go. I doubt they'd be making a Christian tee be turned.

If I read that tee as I was walking through the park, I'd think it was a slam on gay marriage. It's meaning would have been lost on me, lol.

And yes, just about anything can be offensive to anyone. Heck, they've given me a hard time about wearing a Mickey Mouse tee shirt before.

 

[Goofyluver]

I have nothing against gays or gay marriage but I do take issue with people choosing what is supposed to be a family-friendly atmosphere to speak out for gay rights. My 8yo, like many others her age, doesn't know anything about sex or gay-anything yet. But seeing edgy tee shirt slogans that she doesn't understand will most likely lead to questions and waiting in line for an amusement park ride isn't where I want to have that conversation. I think that I have the right to choose the time and place for that and my child certainly has the right to learn about this subject in private.

So, while I support gay marriage, I think that the Dollywood employee did the right thing. That just isn't the time or the place.

Equal rights (not gay rights) ARE family friendly. Gays and lesbians are denied equal rights in this country, which means their families are denied equal rights, and many of us have families.

Not sure why a discussion on what "gay" means would lead to a discussion about sex.

 

[Goofyluver]

Hey, thanks for the link! I hadn't seen that PSA before. My daughter thought it was cool, too.

You're welcome!