Kevin&Randall
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2005
- Messages
- 490
I found this incredibly interesting article on 365gay dot com. I know we've all debated this issue before, but you would think Disney's spokespeople would have thier responses outlined more clearly.
ORLANDO (365gay.com) On the Feb. 20th episode of The View, well-known wedding planner David Tutera appeared on the talk show to promote his David Tutera Couture Wedding Collection at Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, Fla. The collection allows the happy couple to choose between four elaborate wedding styles.
But are those weddings available if there are two brides or two grooms? Short answer: no.
According to Walt Disney World spokesperson Jason DiPietre, Disney's Florida property requires a valid Florida marriage license in order to offer their services. But getting that answer was far from a straightforward task, as the Walt Disney World Weddings website and the Disney consultants at first gave confusing, often contradictory information.
The fact is, Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings and Honeymoons offers wedding ceremonies, not marriage licenses. The two things are legally completely separate; no license is legally required or necessary for such a ceremony to take place. When asked why Disney, a private corporation, insisted it needs a valid marriage license to offer wedding services, DiPietre responded that what "makes the marriage binding and recognized by the state [of Florida] is the license, so that is why we need the license."
Florida state law, however, does not regulate to whom Disney may offer their wedding services; it only regulates which ceremonies the state recognizes as legal. Though pressed further on the issue, DiPietre only stated: "The Walt Disney World Resort is open to everyone, every day. We extend our welcome to everyone and treat all of our guests with respect."
While Disneyland Resort in California also requires a California marriage license to hold a wedding on their property, they will host same-sex commitment ceremonies for domestic partners. (The Florida property won't.) But there is a catch. Weddings with marriage licenses are handled by Disney's wedding team and, should the couple choose, the ceremony may be held in Disney's Rose Court Garden. Commitment ceremonies, however, are handled by the local corporate office and are held in one of the banquet halls or ballrooms. Only heterosexual couples are allowed access to the Rose Court Garden.
We also contacted David Tutera, Disney's highly touted couture wedding designer, to ask whether he was aware of Disney's discriminatory policy. A spokesperson for Tutera informed us: "David believes that any celebration that allows two people gay or straight to celebrate their love is a beautiful thing. David certainly would prefer all states recognize gay marriages, but at the current time, the state of Florida does not."
When pressed to address the fact that Disney chooses to base their policy on Florida's discriminatory laws, Tutera's spokesperson referred us back to Disney and declined further comment. Confusingly, Disney does say that anyone possessing a valid marriage license from Massachusetts, the only US state to currently allow same-sex marriage, would be allowed to have a "vow renewal" on Disney's Florida property. (Calls to Disney's California Media Relations department to clarify this and other issues pertaining to their properties were never returned.) When asked to explain the discrepancy between allowing "vow renewals" with a marriage license Florida doesn't recognize, but not the actual wedding ceremony which has no legal standing, spokesperson DiPietre simply referred us to his last statement.
Fascinating!
Randall
ORLANDO (365gay.com) On the Feb. 20th episode of The View, well-known wedding planner David Tutera appeared on the talk show to promote his David Tutera Couture Wedding Collection at Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, Fla. The collection allows the happy couple to choose between four elaborate wedding styles.
But are those weddings available if there are two brides or two grooms? Short answer: no.
According to Walt Disney World spokesperson Jason DiPietre, Disney's Florida property requires a valid Florida marriage license in order to offer their services. But getting that answer was far from a straightforward task, as the Walt Disney World Weddings website and the Disney consultants at first gave confusing, often contradictory information.
The fact is, Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings and Honeymoons offers wedding ceremonies, not marriage licenses. The two things are legally completely separate; no license is legally required or necessary for such a ceremony to take place. When asked why Disney, a private corporation, insisted it needs a valid marriage license to offer wedding services, DiPietre responded that what "makes the marriage binding and recognized by the state [of Florida] is the license, so that is why we need the license."
Florida state law, however, does not regulate to whom Disney may offer their wedding services; it only regulates which ceremonies the state recognizes as legal. Though pressed further on the issue, DiPietre only stated: "The Walt Disney World Resort is open to everyone, every day. We extend our welcome to everyone and treat all of our guests with respect."
While Disneyland Resort in California also requires a California marriage license to hold a wedding on their property, they will host same-sex commitment ceremonies for domestic partners. (The Florida property won't.) But there is a catch. Weddings with marriage licenses are handled by Disney's wedding team and, should the couple choose, the ceremony may be held in Disney's Rose Court Garden. Commitment ceremonies, however, are handled by the local corporate office and are held in one of the banquet halls or ballrooms. Only heterosexual couples are allowed access to the Rose Court Garden.
We also contacted David Tutera, Disney's highly touted couture wedding designer, to ask whether he was aware of Disney's discriminatory policy. A spokesperson for Tutera informed us: "David believes that any celebration that allows two people gay or straight to celebrate their love is a beautiful thing. David certainly would prefer all states recognize gay marriages, but at the current time, the state of Florida does not."
When pressed to address the fact that Disney chooses to base their policy on Florida's discriminatory laws, Tutera's spokesperson referred us back to Disney and declined further comment. Confusingly, Disney does say that anyone possessing a valid marriage license from Massachusetts, the only US state to currently allow same-sex marriage, would be allowed to have a "vow renewal" on Disney's Florida property. (Calls to Disney's California Media Relations department to clarify this and other issues pertaining to their properties were never returned.) When asked to explain the discrepancy between allowing "vow renewals" with a marriage license Florida doesn't recognize, but not the actual wedding ceremony which has no legal standing, spokesperson DiPietre simply referred us to his last statement.
Fascinating!
Randall
