help pls

[maddmike]

Sorry no agenda. Just a perfectly acceptable way to live. Had they asked about crowd level that may have been different.

Thats your opinion and its a debate that is not for the disboards.

 

[PghLybrt]

Thats your opinion and its a debate that is not for the disboards.

And its opinion that I have an agenda. It really isnt a debate here, The DIS has a gay forum.

 

[goofy4tink]

To the OP....you really aren't going to be "seeing this all over"..there truly isn't anything to see out of the ordinary. I can understand that some people may not have that much experience with those who are openly gay, and I can imagine that you have heard horror stories. But, I have seen much worse behaviour from straight guests at WDW. And I have seen gay couples at all times of year...with no out of the ordinary behaviour.
Now.....you may want to find out which offsite hotels/resorts are hosting during the GayDays in Orlando. You will want to avoid those spots...that's where you are going to have some rowdy behaviour. But, since I doubt you will be in those hotels/resorts you shouldn't have an issue.

People need to understand that every community has it's 'over the top' folks. Sure, there are going to some gay folk that are 'out there' and who's behaviour is going to be mortifying. But, same goes for many of our straight folk as well. Who you love has nothing to do with how you behave...period.

I wouldn't have any issue going to WDW during GayDays. I would go to their website and find out which parks are 'the park of the day' so to speak. Then, if you're uncomfortable, choose a different park. Basicially, this is a time when those families, that are made up of gay/lesbian people, like to go to WDW and enjoy the parks with others who have the same life style. Nothing wrong with that. Moms and moms and their kids, or dads and dads with their kids....sure, a bit different than what most see everyday. But, for the most part, it's nothing out of the ordinary.

I do find that those comments that have been snarky, sarcastic or mean spirited are from those who are seeing some 'issue' with the OP's question. Perhaps this is a good time to teach others about acceptance rather than to tear into them because they might be a bit skittish about something they have no experience with. It isn't the gay man next door, or the lesbian pediatrician that most people have an issue with...it's those who are over the top..who try to flaunt their lifestyle (And I use that word lifestyle simply because I can't think of another way to put it) and act completely outrageously. It's that behaviour that tars an entire group of people with a nasty reputation.
So go, have fun. You will be surprised by what you see...and perhaps more so by what you don't see.

 

[ShesAPirate]

I will probably get attacked by someone for this but I am really tired of people being so concerned with having to 'explain this to the kids'. People are gay. There have always been gay people, and there will always be gay people.

Honestly, how difficult is this:
"There are all different kinds of people in the world. Some men love women. Other men love men. When people love each other, sometimes they hold hands, or hug and kiss each other."
The End.

Ugghhhh.

 

[goofy4tink]

I will probably get attacked by someone for this but I am really tired of people being so concerned with having to 'explain this to the kids'. People are gay. There have always been gay people, and there will always be gay people.

Honestly, how difficult is this:
"There are all different kinds of people in the world. Some men love women. Other men love men. When people love each other, sometimes they hold hands, or hug and kiss each other."
The End.

Ugghhhh.

And someone may not be comfortable with that. Rather than being tolerant, there seems to be a tendancy to just say that if you are uncomfortable, you don't get it or are against it. Man....it seems that people here would rather just screech at those who are unsure about what they may see, rather than try to teach them.
You know....it was at WDW that my then 10 y/o dd had the straight/gay conversation with me. As she lay in her bed, trying to recover from being sick (nice thing to have happen at WDW), she was reading a teen magazine. She turned to me and said..."Mom what does gay mean??? 'Cause I tried to figure out what it means within the sentence and it doesn't make sense if I put in happy instead." Oh man...I was so not ready for that talk. But we had it. I told her about her uncle, my brother. And also about my step sister..both of them are gay. I told her about the many theater friends I have that are gay. It was a good talk. She gets it, she finds nothing wrong with being gay. In fact, she has gay friends in high school now. She is very accepting.
But.....she was lucky. She had a mom who understands that being gay is not the defining thing about someone. So, maybe if we try to teach others rather than denigrate them, with snarky responses, life will be easier all the way around.
Tolerance people...tolerance. It works both ways.

 

[ILoveDisney-Angie]

No offense to anyone but I don't want to see any PDA's (more than handholding or a quick kiss) whether straight or gay. WDW is a FAMILY place not a club/bar. Ick!

 

[ScarletFire]

I will probably get attacked by someone for this but I am really tired of people being so concerned with having to 'explain this to the kids'. People are gay. There have always been gay people, and there will always be gay people.

Honestly, how difficult is this:
"There are all different kinds of people in the world. Some men love women. Other men love men. When people love each other, sometimes they hold hands, or hug and kiss each other."
The End.

That's exactly what I've taught my children! And it's not difficult.

When at WDW; I'm usually oblivious to crowds; just having a good time. Gay Days, Jersey Week, Pop Warner, Brazilian Tour Groups; none of it bothers me.

 

[dapoteete]

No offense to anyone but I don't want to see any PDA's (more than handholding or a quick kiss) whether straight or gay. WDW is a FAMILY place not a club/bar. Ick!

 

[postage stamp]

I"m confused as to what she's worried about seeing.

(And given a park full of cheerleaders and a park full of gay people I'll pick my gays HANDS DOWN.)

 

[DizBelle]

And I wasn't into seeing cheering girls in queue at the parks. Big deal. The OP could have worded the question more tactfully, we can at least agree there. But it still does not warrant some of the responses here.

I live and work downtown in a large city. I'm exposed (and for the most part tolerant of) almost everything. Others who are not get to see television portrayals of gay people in bars, behaving lewdly, etc. It is perfectly fair to ask if gay days are a family friendly environment. This is an opportunity to let someone know that not all gay folks are the Village People or Andy Dick.

In short, do not change your dates. You'll be fine.

Andy Dick is gay? I didn't know.

 

[dalt01]

I would like to add a positive off topic post on this thread:

dalt01, your dog in your signature is ADORABLE! Is it a Bichon?

yup, and he has on a red mickey collar, ya cant tell cause i do a lot of my photography in black and white. for the record he is NOT gay he is a democrat! and also is fixed, but will take a belly rub from anyone no matter what their sexual orientation.

 

[I Am What I Am]

Isn't tolerance a 2-way street? If we (general we) are tolerant of you (general you) shouldn't you do the same?

 

[dalt01]

No offense to anyone but I don't want to see any PDA's (more than handholding or a quick kiss) whether straight or gay. WDW is a FAMILY place not a club/bar. Ick!

and that friends is what the OP meant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[zeitzeuge]

A few observations:

When any OP starts off a thread with, "not trying to be judgemental" or "not trying to offend", they usually are going to. It's like someone coming up to you and saying, "I don't mean to be rude, but.......". You're probably being rude. No way around it. You start off a thread that way, and expect comments to escalate like they have. I do have to say though that it's comforting to see 80% of the comments here being supportive of Gay Days. It's nice to see.

But try being a minority who always has these kind of questions thrown around and of course we're going to become a little sensitive. We live with discrimination in our daily lives. Some of us have been fired for being gay. We've been refused medical treatment. I've been beaten up for being gay. Our partners weren't allowed to see us in the hospital because they weren't family or a legal spouse. We can't legally get married in most states. The list goes on and on. We live with the preconceived idea of us all being drug taking, partying, public displays of affection showing, child molesters, who do nothing push our "agenda". After a while, it can get to you.

So sometimes, we're going to be on edge and sternly voice our opinions. You can't sit here and tell me that any group, whether it fundamentalist Christians, Athiests or any other sort of group aren't going to go the same.

If the OP is already questioning whether or not she wants to deal with Gay Days no matter WHAT her reasons are, then she should change her plans. If she's not ready to explain to her children about us because she's either uncomfortable at this point or for religious reasons, then by all means either talk to your children and keep your plans, or change them.

Hopefully there will come a day when the OP will sit down and talk to her children. What's important is what she tells him. Because yes, we're everywhere and we're in the parks on a daily basis.

But give kids a break. They're not as niave as you think.

Hope the OP does what's right for her.

Sorry if I came across "pushing my agenda", but so be it.

 

[postage stamp]

and that friends is what the OP meant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, but why does she need to know about it for THOSE specific days.

She didn't say "I don't want to see ANYONE making out in the MK." She's only ASKING about gay people.

 

[MillerTribeMum]

To the OP: DH and I went with our children (ages 2, 2, 5, and 6), my mother (age 65), and my in-laws (in their late 50s) during Gay Days 2009. It was splendid! The crowd levels were supposedly in the 8-9s, however we found the crowds quite manageable. There were many same-sex couples and groups, but all were there for the same thing: to have a magical time. We all just are people, after all. There was a day when the gay community all turned out in red shirts-- DH apparently did not get the memo that day and wore red. It was mutually funny.

I am happy to report that I saw no one, hetero or ****, having sex or during our entire 8-day stay. Honestly, I saw little PDA with the exception of the usual young crowd and overtly obvious honeymooners.

Kidding aside, my vote is Gay Week is a wonderful time to go.

Good thoughts and best wishes,
Jeni

 

[princessmom29]

Exactly. As I see it you ahve 2 choices:
1. "Man up" talk to your kids about it, get over your fears and predjudices and have a great trip during gay days
or
2. Stay in your "comfort zone" and change your plans.
The choice is yours, but your kids are going to be exposed and have to deal with it sooner or later. My personal vote as the heterosexual mom of a 5 year old is sooner.

 

[dalt01]

OK, but why does she need to know about it for THOSE specific days.

She didn't say "I don't want to see ANYONE making out in the MK." She's only ASKING about gay people.

ya know everybody has something that "just aint happinin".................. for me its milk, cant get it past my lips, cant put it in a glass. if i see my wife putting it in the mashed potatoes i aint eatin em. im just sayin.

 

[rie'smom]

OP, it's like any other day at Disney World.

Pay no attention to the supposedly "non judgmental but it's ok for me to bash others" posters.

 

[dalt01]

OP, it's like any other day at Disney World.

Pay no attention to the supposedly "non judgmental but it's ok for me to bash others" posters.

and any other day on the boards