Dollywood dress code

[design_mom]

Some may think this is a little naive, but how is a t-shirt supporting something you believe in, like gay marriage, any different than wearing a t-shirt promoting your favorite university or sports team? As a University of Michigan grad, I can't tell you how much I dislike having to see Ohio State t-shirts!

In my opinion, if the shirt had said "We support gay marriage" or "Marriage should be for everyone" or something like that, it wouldn't have been a problem. Some people *still* might not have liked the message, but the wearer would not have been asked to turn it inside out. It was because it said marriage is "so gay" which is often considered a slur. And it appears that Dollywood had a policy against shirts that are "offensive" (and I think most people would consider shirts that contain slurs to be offensive.)

I would bet if someone wore a shirt that said "Wolverines are so gay. Go Bucks!" they would also be asked to turn it inside out. Or if someone used "the N word" on a shirt -- even if it was to promote racial equality -- they would also be asked to turn it inside out.

 

[brookmey]

I should have clarified, but I'm not referring to the shirt at Dollywood. I'm talking about the fact that some PPs have stated they do not appreciate people wearing shirts that promote a platform, like gay marriage.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

So, I've been seeing this thread on the front page and wondering why Dollywood's dress code is generating so much discussion, so I finally opened it to take a look!

If the reason for asking her to turn her shirt inside out was the use of "so gay" as a slur, and if they would similarly ask a customer to do the same with a "the Yankees are so gay" shirt, then I have no problem with it.

If the reason was that the employee thinks gay marriage is not "family friendly", shame on him! He needs some diversity training.

I am another who finds it very simple to explain "gay" to my kids without talking about sex. I've told them that sometimes girls love girls or boys love boys, for as long as I can remember. They don't know anything about hetero sex at a young age, why would the subject of romantic love between same sex partners require the inclusion of sex? If they ask if their daddy and brother are going to get married then, since they love each other, you answer it the same way you do when your little boy asks his mom to marry him, or a little girl says she wants to marry her cousin. No big deal.

 

[dzneelvr]

Our family spent many wonderful summer vacations in Dollywood and I'm very certain that the dress code would be addressed (no pun intended) if any slogan was deemed offensive. There is a similar code at our schools across the region..."...if anyone finds it offensive you will be asked to wear it inside out for the remainder of the day". Are you wearing a shirt or making a statement? two differenct things, so lay off Dolly-- she rocks