Fairy Tale Weddings Opening To Gay Couples

[JandJ]

I met the nicest woman on the DIS earlier this year and she and her partner were legally married last year in their home state. Now they can have a Disney ceremony too if they choose - That's so cool!

 

[PrettyInTink]

First of all, now I think we have to step up the wedding décor. You know we are gonna get outdone now! My gay friends decorating puts mine to shame!

Rick~ If you want to wear a dress go for it! I'm so happy that this has hppened for you!

 

[hmgolden]

Oh you'll see me here, probably freakin' out big time.

And wait until the dress fittings.... KIDDING! KIDDING!

Rick - We'll be glad to have you here - dress (and/or tux) fitting freak outs and all!

You were one of the first people I thought of when I saw the news.

 

[Ember]

That's great news. The whole issue of gay marriage has died down in Canada since it became legal, and I think it's sometimes easy to forget that this isn't the case in many other places. I think Disney taking this step, as a beckon of family values to many people, is a wonderful thing. I imagine there will be some back lash from this announcement, and I hope Disney stands strong and continues to be a leader in accepting that families come in many packages.

 

[mermaidbride1108]

I think this is AWESOME news! I'm so happy that Disney is doing this. Everyone should be able to have their Fairytale!

Rick - I can't wait to hear about your planning! I hope you do join us and share your opinions and ideas. I'm so happy for you too!

 

[RickinNYC]

First of all, now I think we have to step up the wedding décor. You know we are gonna get outdone now! My gay friends decorating puts mine to shame!

Rick~ If you want to wear a dress go for it! I'm so happy that this has hppened for you!

Oh my God, Rick will NOT be wearing a dress. Nor will Joe! I repeat, Rick will NOT be wearing a dress!

We'll both be in tuxes or at least a suit. Probably tuxes.

 

[seaprincess]

Yeah Disney!!! I am so glad that all couples can now celebrate their wedding at DIsney!!!

Rick, you both make a handsome couple!! Congratulations....look forward to reading more about your plans in the months to come!!

Have a great day!!

 

[tmli]

This is fantastic news! Another step towards the day when we are all equal and judged by the strength of our character and not by who we love.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Yay! Now everyone can go broke planning the perfect day! J/K It is a great move in Disney's part! Congratulations, Rick!

 

[scrump]

This makes me so happy!

Although I love WDW, I really did not like vacationing at a place that didn't open themselves up to everybody. This is very soothing for me.

 

[FoodLover]

I am so happy about this. When Mike and I did our beautiful Vow Renewal at WDW this February, it really bothered me to think that my gay friends would not be able to do the same.

This is great news.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[JJClemson]

This is so great I am so happy Disney has decided to do this!

 

[the other micki]

Maybe there are others who are reading this thread waiting for someone to post another view...This is a sad, sad day for Disney. They didn't have the courage to stand up for traditional marriage. Yes, I know homosexauls will not actually be "marrying", but it's certainly a big step in the wrong direction.

 

[Claire L]

Maybe there are others who are reading this thread waiting for someone to post another view...This is a sad, sad day for Disney. They didn't have the courage to stand up for traditional marriage. Yes, I know homosexauls will not actually be "marrying", but it's certainly a big step in the wrong direction.

I actually think it is a very happy day making Disney special for everyone. After all what is traditional marriage these days?

Claire

 

[hiwaygal]

Maybe there are others who are reading this thread waiting for someone to post another view...This is a sad, sad day for Disney. They didn't have the courage to stand up for traditional marriage. Yes, I know homosexauls will not actually be "marrying", but it's certainly a big step in the wrong direction.

Based on the reactions to this announcement on several boards on the DIS, you, and those who might agree with you, are in the VAST MINORITY.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion.

Edited to add: I've posted this before when this topic came up. I think it still applies:

"Tolerance implies a respect for another person, not because he is wrong or even because he is right, but because he is human." -
-- John Cogley Commonweal

 

[tmli]

I love that quote!!!

 

[Saxton]

Maybe there are others who are reading this thread waiting for someone to post another view...This is a sad, sad day for Disney. They didn't have the courage to stand up for traditional marriage. Yes, I know homosexauls will not actually be "marrying", but it's certainly a big step in the wrong direction.

You are definitely entitled to your opinion, but fortunately you are in the minority. You state that Disney doesn't have the “courage to stand up for traditional marriage”. I take a different view. I believe Disney is standing up for equality, dignity and respect. They understand that my friends who have been in a loving, committed relationship for over 20 years deserve the same opportunity to celebrate their relationship as any couple in a “traditional marriage”. They know that a couple just starting out their lives together deserves the same chance to stand in front of their friends and family to confirm their love whether they are a gay couple or a “traditional couple”. I don't view Disney as anti-marriage, I view Disney as pro-love.

I see that you have 3 children and I assume they enjoy all things Disney. I'm sure your family has wonderful memories from vacations that you have shared at the parks. It's entirely possible that one of your children might want to get married some day and they might actually want to celebrate that happy event at one of the Disney parks. But what if one of your children is gay? Should that child be denied the opportunity for the same memories? Would that child be any less deserving of the magic? In the end, this is not about destroying “traditional” marriage, it's about celebrating love.

 

[mermaidbride1108]

Maybe there are others who are reading this thread waiting for someone to post another view...This is a sad, sad day for Disney. They didn't have the courage to stand up for traditional marriage. Yes, I know homosexauls will not actually be "marrying", but it's certainly a big step in the wrong direction.

I knew someone would eventually come along with their opinion, and while you are entitled to your opinion, I completely disagree with you.

First let me state this - I am not gay, nor do I have any relatives that are or any very close/best friends that are. So this isn't personal, but I take it personal. I do have some friends that are though and am very proud of the people they are.

My brother is mentally challenged and will forever have the mental capacity of a 5 and a half year old - it was a medical malpractice at birth, completely the doctors fault. Among many things, he cannot speak like you and I, and is hyperactive, can not sit still for more than an hour. Now my point is is that my brother is 21, he lives in a home and he will never have the opportunity to support himself, go to college, fall in love with a girl and get married, have a baby, even sing a song. Now this isnt a pity party for him, those who love him just want him to be happy and he is and that's all that matters to us.

Point being, I know how many of life's gifts my brother has been deprived of and will be deprived of, and I would never ever want to wish that on someone else. Yes, being gay is different than norm and there is alot of things to figure out when one is gay - the traditional family changes and children have questions. However, there is no such thing as the perfect family anymore - and just because this family is different, does not mean its bad, I'm sure they are a loving and happy family because they are being true to themselves. Being gay doesnt mean that they should live unhappy pretending to be someone they are not.

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, whether it is their race, religion, gender, or sexual oreintation. So I'm sure, you yourself are different some how too - would you ever want to create a rule that forbids you from being happy?

I apologize for making this board political everyone

 

[mermaidbride1108]

I knew someone would eventually come along with their opinion, and while you are entitled to your opinion, I completely disagree with you.

First let me state this - I am not gay, nor do I have any relatives that are or any very close/best friends that are. So this isn't personal, but I take it personal. I do have some friends that are though and am very proud of the people they are.

My brother is mentally challenged and will forever have the mental capacity of a 5 and a half year old - it was a medical malpractice at birth, completely the doctors fault. Among many things, he cannot speak like you and I, and is hyperactive, can not sit still for more than an hour. Now my point is is that my brother is 21, he lives in a home and he will never have the opportunity to support himself, go to college, fall in love with a girl and get married, have a baby, even sing a song. Now this isnt a pity party for him, those who love him just want him to be happy and he is and that's all that matters to us.

Point being, I know how many of life's gifts my brother has been deprived of and will be deprived of, and I would never ever want to wish that on someone else. Yes, being gay is different than norm and there is alot of things to figure out when one is gay - the traditional family changes and children have questions. However, there is no such thing as the perfect family anymore - and just because this family is different, does not mean its bad, I'm sure they are a loving and happy family because they are being true to themselves. Being gay doesnt mean that they should live unhappy pretending to be someone they are not.

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, whether it is their race, religion, gender, or sexual oreintation. So I'm sure, you yourself are different some how too - would you ever want to create a rule that forbids you from being happy?

I apologize for making this board political everyone

I did a rethink and I'm sorry for being emtionally charged and posting this here, but I am not sorry for what I said - it's my opinion and my view.

This is a board for planning the most joyous occasion in our lives and everyone is welcome here - that's my bottom line.

 

[jasonandlisa]

Disney had allowed gay couples to take part in its vow renewals program but excluded them from buying wedding packages by requiring a valid marriage license from California or Florida, which do not permit or recognize gay marriages.

I'm a little confused by the change of policy. It seems to me that the only difference between a "vow renewal" and a "wedding ceremony" is that in the latter, the couple is legally wed. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if, for example, a Catholic couple wanted to be "married" in Disney World, they would have to use the vow renewal option. A Catholic ceremony may only be performed in a Catholic church, so they would have to have at least a small ceremony beforehand. And then they could have a Disney ceremony, but DFTW would classify it as a "vow renewal", right? (since they would have already been legally wed.) And there could be other reasons, too, why a couple would want to make Disney their "second" ceremony. So the "vow renewal" package works for that. They can plan exactly the same wedding as anybody planning a disney "wedding". (Same ceremony locations, reception locations, floral, photography, etc.) It's just not a "legal" wedding ceremony.

As a quick aside, my Christian aunt married a Jewish man, and instead of having an inter-faith ceremony, they had two completely separate ceremonies. I was young at the time (a flower girl), so I don't remember all the details, but I'm sure that only one of them could have been the actual, legal wedding. And I do remember that there were vows and the man-and-wife pronouncement at both. In my mind, both were equally important as "weddings" even though DFTW would have classified the one that occurred first as a "wedding" and the second as a "vow renewal."

So...if gay couples were already allowed to participate in the vow renewals program, weren't they already able to enjoy commitment ceremonies?? After all, if gay marriage isn't legal in Florida and California, then how would the "wedding ceremony" be any different than the "vow renewal ceremony"? So I guess I'm just missing how the change in policy actually changes anything. I see how they're making a statement and how Disney is being supportive of gay community in principle. But isn't it just blurring the lines between the "vow renewal" and "wedding" ceremonies?

Please excuse my ignorance. I mean no offense. Our family has some dear friends that have been in committed gay relationships for years. And I'm not trying to make a statement that's either pro- or con- gay marriage. Rather, I just don't quite understand the point of this change in policy in practice.