Please explain ....

[LMCmom25kids]

I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, but could someone please explain to me why the gay and lesbian community feel they need their own day, weekend, week or what ever it is, at Disney? You are people too, you can go anytime just like the rest of us. Just please don't go over board with the public displays of affection. Personally, I don't want my children to see all that, even if it's being done by heterosexuals. We can all just "get a room ya know." Ha Ha ! Again... let me stress my feelings of not wanting to offend anyone. If so, I apologize most sincerely. I just want to understand the reasoning behind this. There is not any such thing as "Heterosexual Day." Is there? Perhaps I should request that. Thanks in advanced for enlightening me. Have a wonderful disney day!

 

[LMCmom25kids]

I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, but could someone please explain to me why the gay and lesbian community feel they need their own day, weekend, week or what ever it is, at Disney? You are people too, you can go anytime just like the rest of us. Just please don't go over board with the public displays of affection. Personally, I don't want my children to see all that, even if it's being done by heterosexuals. We can all just "get a room ya know." Ha Ha ! Again... let me stress my feelings of not wanting to offend anyone. If so, I apologize most sincerely. I just want to understand the reasoning behind this. There is not any such thing as "Heterosexual Day." Is there? Perhaps I should request that. Thanks in advanced for enlightening me. Have a wonderful disney day!

I just wanted to add that I never look down on others just because they are different than myself. Please don't think that. I just want to educate myself about this. It's something that I have been wondering about that's all. I have nmet the nicest gay and lesbian people. Much nicer than some heterosexuals I know! My thing is really some of the over board pda's that I have seen in the past. Again, I have also seen this with non gay and lesbian couples. There is no harm with a quick "smooch" now and then... it's the long, sloppy tongue hanging out kisses that I hate to see! I mean, there really is a time and place for everything. Now lets all go have some good old fashioned Disney fun!

 

[UKMark]

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The other 51 weekends out of the year are "Hetero Days".

 

[ChrizJen]

OP, thanks for asking. No offense taken by me.

I understand your question.

This is how I see it...
To me, celebrations like Gay Days serve twofold. First, it gives us an opportunity to feel more comfortable doing things as simple and innocent as holding hands. We're able to celebrate who we are in the (relatively safe) company of others like us. There are still far too many people who don't understand us. There are many who, in fact, downright dislike or hate us because of who we are. Would we like to blend into society, just like any other couple? You bet! But we don't yet. We still get "those looks" when we walk down the street hand in hand.

So the other purpose, in my opinion, is to show others that we're just like the rest of you. While in the "comfort zone" that I mentioned above, we're able to show others that we're really no different. We may love differently than you do, but we still lead normal lives. We work, we play, we have families, and yes...we go to Disney.

Someday, I would love to be able to go to Disney on a "normal" day, and not get stares and ignorant comments directed at me because I am holding hands with my wife. But until then, I feel that we need events where we can come together as a community and celebrate who we are without fear, and show others that we're really not as different as they think.

Hope that helps, OP...

 

[OrlandoMike]

Why do they have Night of Joy?

Why do they have Tom Joyner Weekend?

Why do thousands of groups of Pop Warner go to Disney together?

Why do Families have Reunions at Disney?

Why do they have Grad Nights?

Why do brides plan weddings at Disney?

Why do Brazilian teens flock to Disney?

Simple! Cuz we love the mouse!

 

[soulmates]

Always uneasy of new posters that pose these questions. This is her 3rd post and she comes to this board and throws that question out? Hmmmm... just not feelin' it folks.

 

[turkygurl]

I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, but could someone please explain to me why the gay and lesbian community feel they need their own day, weekend, week or what ever it is, at Disney? You are people too, you can go anytime just like the rest of us. Just please don't go over board with the public displays of affection. Personally, I don't want my children to see all that, even if it's being done by heterosexuals. We can all just "get a room ya know." Ha Ha ! Again... let me stress my feelings of not wanting to offend anyone. If so, I apologize most sincerely. I just want to understand the reasoning behind this. There is not any such thing as "Heterosexual Day." Is there? Perhaps I should request that. Thanks in advanced for enlightening me. Have a wonderful disney day! I just wanted to add that I never look down on others just because they are different than myself. Please don't think that. I just want to educate myself about this. It's something that I have been wondering about that's all. I have nmet the nicest gay and lesbian people. Much nicer than some heterosexuals I know! My thing is really some of the over board pda's that I have seen in the past. Again, I have also seen this with non gay and lesbian couples. There is no harm with a quick "smooch" now and then... it's the long, sloppy tongue hanging out kisses that I hate to see! I mean, there really is a time and place for everything. Now lets all go have some good old fashioned Disney fun!

Like Orlando Mike, our esteemed moderator said, LOTS of different groups have a night/weekend at Disney. And just like when any other large group, united by a common interest, flocks to Disney by the dozens, it is not at the exclusion of any other group or individual. Disney welcomes all, and also welcomes all $$$. I do wonder what you mean by "overboard with the PDA's" as I have been attending GayDays now for quite a few years and I haven't seen anything I would term as overboard. I guess it's relative, but hand holding isn't overboard to me, neither is a peck on the lips or cheek. I haven't really seen anything more egregious than that at any theme park. Honestly, I've seen worse PDA's at the mall between teenagers than at any Disney Park (and I've been there on average of once a month for 6 years).

I am sure, knowing Disney's love of the almighty dollar, that if you wanted to put together and organize a "Heterosexual Day" and have that group attend the parks together, Disney wouldn't turn you away. They wouldn't officially sponsor it, but then again, they don't sponsor GayDays either.

That all being said, there are groups that come to Disney that I don't really want to be around (i.e. Pop Warner Cheerleaders, Brazilian Tour Groups, Night of Joy, to name a few), so I purposefully do not schedule trips during the times those groups will be at the parks. It's worked so far for me.

Hope this helps. I'm trying to answer honestly, without offense or being offensive. Sorry if I've patently offended any cheerleaders, Brazilians, or Night-of-Joy'ers in the making of this email.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I guess I would feel more understanding of the "why do you need your own day" topic of questioning if it weren't for the comment about going overboard with displays of affection.

What has the OP seen between two same gendered couples that prompted that cautionary comment?

Why did a new member feel it important to come here and provide that comment?

Nope, I'm not "feeling it" either. Sorry.

 

[ConcKahuna]

A big part of it is community. Most places in the country, only about one in 50 or so people are gay. That means many gay people in our country may not know ANY (or at least very few) people they can relate to as gay.

Think of it this way: if you lived in a college town, and you were the only family near where you lived or worked, you might get lonely.

Gaydays is just a way for people from around the world to get in touch with others like them. It's not about PDA's, hookups, parties, or anything like that (although there's plenty of that in Orlando no matter if you are gay or straight), it's about being near other people like you who can relate to the social challenges that you deal with on a daily basis.

 

[kingLouiethe1]

Always uneasy of new posters that pose these questions. This is her 3rd post and she comes to this board and throws that question out? Hmmmm... just not feelin' it folks.

Ditto. The cynic in me smells an internet troll.

But I'm from LA. We've taken cynicism and turned it into a lifestyle.

 

[LMCmom25kids]

The other 51 weekends out of the year are "Hetero Days".

No... they are "Any sexual orientation days" ..... Show me the fine print that says that gays & lesbians are excluded !

 

[ConcKahuna]

No... they are "Any sexual orientation days" ..... Show me the fine print that says that gays & lesbians are excluded !

It's more exclusion by population percentages and location than by force. Straight people by virtue of genetics are more likely to be able to find other straight people near them

 

[LMCmom25kids]

OP, thanks for asking. No offense taken by me.

I understand your question.

This is how I see it...
To me, celebrations like Gay Days serve twofold. First, it gives us an opportunity to feel more comfortable doing things as simple and innocent as holding hands. We're able to celebrate who we are in the (relatively safe) company of others like us. There are still far too many people who don't understand us. There are many who, in fact, downright dislike or hate us because of who we are. Would we like to blend into society, just like any other couple? You bet! But we don't yet. We still get "those looks" when we walk down the street hand in hand.

So the other purpose, in my opinion, is to show others that we're just like the rest of you. While in the "comfort zone" that I mentioned above, we're able to show others that we're really no different. We may love differently than you do, but we still lead normal lives. We work, we play, we have families, and yes...we go to Disney.

Someday, I would love to be able to go to Disney on a "normal" day, and not get stares and ignorant comments directed at me because I am holding hands with my wife. But until then, I feel that we need events where we can come together as a community and celebrate who we are without fear, and show others that we're really not as different as they think.

Hope that helps, OP...

Thanks so much ! So well said. It's so nice to understand more clearly. I see your point perfectly! I just wish a few others did not take offense. As one poster put a response to me..... "The other 51 weeks of the year are for heterosexuals." SO WRONG! ..... I had to correct them. Any orientation is welcome on those other 51 weeks. Heterosexualks DO NOT have their own day, week etc. .... Thanks again. You seem like a very nice person! Enjoy Disney! You deserve to also! We all do.

 

[LMCmom25kids]

Always uneasy of new posters that pose these questions. This is her 3rd post and she comes to this board and throws that question out? Hmmmm... just not feelin' it folks.

And your point is ...... Why must you be sooo offensive ? If you bother to read, one poster responded very respectfully to my question. It was very helpful I have to say. I understand more clearly. No problem here. Sounds like your a bit of a sexual racisits though. I've got no time for this, I must go plan my next Disney vacation!!! And no... I am not one that stares at two girls or two guys holding hands. Enjoy your day !

 

[LMCmom25kids]

Like Orlando Mike, our esteemed moderator said, LOTS of different groups have a night/weekend at Disney. And just like when any other large group, united by a common interest, flocks to Disney by the dozens, it is not at the exclusion of any other group or individual. Disney welcomes all, and also welcomes all $$$. I do wonder what you mean by "overboard with the PDA's" as I have been attending GayDays now for quite a few years and I haven't seen anything I would term as overboard. I guess it's relative, but hand holding isn't overboard to me, neither is a peck on the lips or cheek. I haven't really seen anything more egregious than that at any theme park. Honestly, I've seen worse PDA's at the mall between teenagers than at any Disney Park (and I've been there on average of once a month for 6 years).

I am sure, knowing Disney's love of the almighty dollar, that if you wanted to put together and organize a "Heterosexual Day" and have that group attend the parks together, Disney wouldn't turn you away. They wouldn't officially sponsor it, but then again, they don't sponsor GayDays either.

That all being said, there are groups that come to Disney that I don't really want to be around (i.e. Pop Warner Cheerleaders, Brazilian Tour Groups, Night of Joy, to name a few), so I purposefully do not schedule trips during the times those groups will be at the parks. It's worked so far for me.

Hope this helps. I'm trying to answer honestly, without offense or being offensive. Sorry if I've patently offended any cheerleaders, Brazilians, or Night-of-Joy'ers in the making of this email.

Thank you. Well said. I appreciate your response. I agree, I don't consider hand holding or a peck on the cheek as being over board. I have seen much worse though. Thanks again.

 

[turkygurl]

No... they are "Any sexual orientation days" ..... Show me the fine print that says that gays & lesbians are excluded !

I posted this above

I am sure, knowing Disney's love of the almighty dollar, that if you wanted to put together and organize a "Heterosexual Day" and have that group attend the parks together, Disney wouldn't turn you away. They wouldn't officially sponsor it, but then again, they don't sponsor GayDays either.

Straight people are not excluded from Gay Days. I am a wonderful Exhibit "A" to this argument. As a straight, married, mother of 2, I have NEVER felt unwelcome, unwanted, or unaccepted from a member of the gay community during Gay Days. You don't have to be gay to enter Magic Kingdom on the first Saturday in June. There aren't actual "Gay Cards" that you have to show. It's a time of year when a group of people with similar interests get together at Walt Disney World to meet up with other like-minded people. It's for Gays, Lesbians, Bisexual, Transgendered individuals, and tolerant, open-minded straight people who happen to like hanging out with their friends who may or may not fall into one of the above categories. We're not keeping anyone out. It's not about exclusion, it's about acceptance. It's about having a specific time of year where there are just a few more of the "community" around, and so there is a slightly smaller chance of having to deal with blatant negative comments regarding sexuality.

 

[zeitzeuge]

Guess we should have started off the question, "why do we need our own space on this forum?" as well? Because of things like this I suppose. When a thred is started off with, "don't mean to be disrespectful at all" you usually are going to whether you mean it or not. I'm not sure if there's even a tactful way of approaching a subject like this is there? Hard to say. At least you had the guts to come to a GLBT forum and ask I guess.

I have to say though, I visit a couple other Disney forums. Ones that do not have a GLBT section and I have to say that you don't get this sort of thing over there. Over here at the DIS we need our own forum, just like we need our own Gay Days, to have a place to feel comfortable and to just be ourselves without all the staring, dirty looks, nasty comments and head shaking disapproval.

Empowerment in numbers.

Sometimes you just want to be you.

Oh and I heart you Turkygurl

 

[soulmates]

Guess we should have started off the question, "why do we need our own space on this forum?" as well? Because of things like this I suppose. When a thred is started off with, "don't mean to be disrespectful at all" you usually are going to whether you mean it or not. I'm not sure if there's even a tactful way of approaching a subject like this is there? Hard to say. At least you had the guts to come to a GLBT forum and ask I guess.

I have to say though, I visit a couple other Disney forums. Ones that do not have a GLBT section and I have to say that you don't get this sort of thing over there. Over here at the DIS we need our own forum, just like we need our own Gay Days, to have a place to feel comfortable and to just be ourselves without all the staring, dirty looks, nasty comments and head shaking disapproval.

Empowerment in numbers.

Sometimes you just want to be you.

Oh and I heart you Turkygurl

Ditto, I Turkygurl & Jackskeletongirl too!!!

 

[wallyb]