Dollywood dress code

[Buckalew11]

When my DD was 8, she was a huge WNBA b-ball fan. That quickly brought up the G/L topic at my house. We have G/L friends so it was all in good timing.

 

[Buckalew11]

Oh, and Dollywood has had Gay days just like Disney has.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Oh btw, some gays are Christian too.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Give it up....

This is NOT about equal rights....

These women have every right to enjoy the theme park... and they DID.

It is about the fact that DollyWood can, will, and IMHO should, make their family theme park free from becoming a platform on subjects like sexual orientation.

They did not deny anybody service.
They are not a public institution.

IMHO, that means, 'period, end of story'.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Oh, and Dollywood has had Gay days just like Disney has.

Really? I didn't know that! Thanks for the info.

 

[DisneyCher]

I think the shirt is offensive. To me, it is in the same league as having a shirt that says:

(name of black celeb/personality) is such a n-word

or

(Chinese personality/celeb) is such a c-word

It is not like the park kicked someone out for being a lesbian, or coming to the park with her wife and family.

 

[Sydnie]

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.

 

[krcit]

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.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Give it up....

This is NOT about equal rights....

These women have every right to enjoy the theme park... and they DID.

It is about the fact that DollyWood can, will, and IMHO should, make their family theme park free from becoming a platform on subjects like sexual orientation.

They did not deny anybody service.
They are not a public institution.

IMHO, that means, 'period, end of story'.

I'm thinkin' it was Dollywood thought the Tshirt wasn't very family friendly to gays 'n lesbians 'n their families.

And I'm gonna stay in this thread.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Well, I only did a couple quick searches...

But, NO I do not think it is true that DollyWood has Gay Days.

I believe that there are Gay Advocacy groups who have gone about organizing this type of thing... As mentioned, people/families of any orientation would be able to come to DollyWood....

But, according to what I see, DollyWood has never been involved or sanctioned this type of thing.

Again, DollyWood has every right to ban clothing that has reference to sexual orientation.

I just think that they need to have very specific language in their policy, and it must be fair, and ban reference to ANY sexual orientation (not just gay).

If they don't have that now...
I would bet big money that they are workin' on it!

 

[Anjelica]

Give it up....

This is NOT about equal rights....

These women have every right to enjoy the theme park... and they DID.

It is about the fact that DollyWood can, will, and IMHO should, make their family theme park free from becoming a platform on subjects like sexual orientation.

They did not deny anybody service.
They are not a public institution.

IMHO, that means, 'period, end of story'.

Agreed - I don't understand why people feel that theme parks are a good place to promote their platform. I would be just as offended if someone wore a shirt that said "Marriage = 1 women + 1 man" to the park let alone what this woman wore.

My favorite "wrong time, wrong place" T-shirt moment of recent is when I took the kiddos to see Winne the Pooh. A "gentleman" walked in with children (not sure if he was uncle, father, brother, etc.) with a shirt that said "I say F**K that" -

 

[Magpie]

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.

Funny story...

My son was about seven when the whole "Gay Marriage" debate was heating up in Canada (it was finally legalized in 2005). "Gay" was everywhere - on every magazine cover, on every news show, on t-shirts, in shop windows, plastered on billboards, on the sides of busses!

My son quietly took all this in, without comment, until one day when we were watching the Simpsons. Two uppercrust British guys suddenly started kissing each other on the TV screen, and my son leaped up onto the ottoman, pointed at the TV and shouted in a tone of astonished revelation, "THAT's gay!"

He finally figured it out!

We don't always get to choose the time or place to have that conversation. It's all around our kids, every day.

But, fwiw, I do agree that theme parks are by and large not the place to make political or social statements.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Dang, this is like wearin' a Universal Tshirt to Whisperin' Canyon!

 

[ChattaAlley]

Ok this is so off topic - sorta. I went to Dolly's concert in Knoxville last week. OMG she is SO wonderful. I had front row. I didn't go by myself but sat by myself. On every side of me there was a gay couple (men). No joke. She has a huge gay following. I thought I would be uncomforatable being the only girl amidst all the mens. I was so wrong had the best time I have ever had. We talked, laughed, sang. It was funny. One had a shirt that said this Gay loves you and she pointed and said I love you too.

Sorry this was off topic but I really enjoyed that concert. I don't think this would be Dolly's personal decesion but she has probably signed off on letting someone makes those kind of decesions.

 

[Goofyluver]

Agreed - I don't understand why people feel that theme parks are a good place to promote their platform. I would be just as offended if someone wore a shirt that said "Marriage = 1 women + 1 man" to the park let alone what this woman wore.

My favorite "wrong time, wrong place" T-shirt moment of recent is when I took the kiddos to see Winne the Pooh. A "gentleman" walked in with children (not sure if he was uncle, father, brother, etc.) with a shirt that said "I say F**K that" -

I don't happen to be a fan of the shirt. But...some folks feel that just by walking together, or holding hands, we're a "walking platform". They don't want us in public either. ALL of these things can lead to "conversations", I'm assuming...

Just wonderin' where human being ends and "platform" begins.

 

[Anjelica]

I don't happen to be a fan of the shirt. But...some folks feel that just by walking together, or holding hands, we're a "walking platform". They don't want us in public either. ALL of these things can lead to "conversations", I'm assuming...

Just wonderin' where human being ends and "platform" begins.

I don't see holding hands or walking together as a "walking platform". Now when it becomes more than just holding hands, "sucking face", heavy petting, etc. in theme parks then I think it draws the line EVEN if you are a heterosexual couple doing those things. Regardless of Sexual Orientation there is a line that has to be drawn regarding what is suitable for public consumption in heavily family promoted venues (i.e. Disney, Dollywood, etc.).

 

[crusoe2]

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.

That's a little obtuse don't you think? Certainly it is possible that a parent might be able to explain what gay means without getting into the sexual part of it but I think it would be tricky. Gay is, afterall, about sexual orientation. A lot would depend on how much the child already knows and what questions happen to cross their mind during the course of the conversation. Bottom line, for me, is that my daughter deserves the courtesy of having that first conversation about sex (of any kind) in private so that she can feel comfortable asking any questions she wants and discussing the subject at length. Could turn out that she's perfectly comfortable with it and not embarrassed in the least. But she also may initially be uncomfortable with her new knowledge - many children are - and I don't want to compound that by having it happen in public.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I don't see holding hands or walking together as a "walking platform". Now when it becomes more than just holding hands, "sucking face", heavy petting, etc. in theme parks then I think it draws the line EVEN if you are a heterosexual couple doing those things. Regardless of Sexual Orientation there is a line that has to be drawn regarding what is suitable for public consumption in heavily family promoted venues (i.e. Disney, Dollywood, etc.).

I agree!!!!!

And, you can't hold DollyWood responsible if there are, maybe, some individuals there who feel so blatantly anti-gay. You just can't.
Your posts are just not valid.

(as long as any anti-gay T-shirts are also turned inside out.)

I read one, very short, response to this situation says it all.

"Get your sexual orientation out of my face".

Period.
No matter what that orientation may be.

 

[Goofyluver]

That's a little obtuse don't you think? Certainly it is possible that a parent might be able to explain what gay means without getting into the sexual part of it but I think it would be tricky. Gay is, afterall, about sexual orientation. A lot would depend on how much the child already knows and what questions happen to cross their mind during the course of the conversation. Bottom line, for me, is that my daughter deserves the courtesy of having that first conversation about sex (of any kind) in private so that she can feel comfortable asking any questions she wants and discussing the subject at length. Could turn out that she's perfectly comfortable with it and not embarrassed in the least. But she also may initially be uncomfortable with her new knowledge - many children are - and I don't want to compound that by having it happen in public.

I'm thinkin' that rather than "obtuse", it's incredibly narrow-minded to believe that "gay" is all about the sex.

Think of it this way...rather than a "marriage is so gay" t-shirt worn by a lesbian, here comes a heterosexual couple wearing "bride" and "groom" tees. They've obviously been married, and are happily walking with huge grins on their faces. Would a discussion about their marriage begin with a discussion regarding sex?

And I still say...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, just like you.

 

[Magpie]

I'm thinkin' that rather than "obtuse", it's incredibly narrow-minded to believe that "gay" is all about the sex.

Think of it this way...rather than a "marriage is so gay" t-shirt worn by a lesbian, here comes a heterosexual couple wearing "bride" and "groom" tees. They've obviously been married, and are happily walking with huge grins on their faces. Would a discussion about their marriage begin with a discussion regarding sex?

And I still say...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, just like you.

I would defend vigorously the right of that lesbian couple to wear bride and bride tees. Or "just married" tees, or any darn thing that heterosexual couples wear.

I can't support the "marriage is so gay" tee, however. It's rude and it's overtly political.