What is Gay Day like?

[theboysmom]

We were there in 2001 and stayed at the Wyndam. The Gay Day function had a block of rooms reserved there. It really wasnt bad. I made a point to copy the schedule from the Gay Day website and planned my week to be in alternate parks so as to avoid the big crowd. I personally did not see any PDA but the participants do identify themselves by red tshirts ( I avoided packing this color). The only time I felt remotely uncomfortable was back at the Wyndam pool. It was nothing to make me want to leave and my oldest DS (5) didnt even noticed but the men wore speedos (I personally do not like them) and were more affectionate with each other. They were not flaunting or intentionally trying to draw attention to themselves. The pool was kind of divided in half with men at one end and families at the other. But let me emphasize again that it was nothing that made us want to leave the pool. In general I found it to be a very enjoyable trip.

Use the gay day website in planning your trip. You will find out where they have blocks of rooms and what functions are planned along with where they will be.

 

[MelessaG]

I've never been in the MK for Gay Days, but I do know that younger kids are generally oblivious to same sex couples. My DD who is 6 is very good friends with twin girls who have lesbian mothers. She came home from school one day and asked me if I knew her friends had two mommies. I said I did, and that I thought that was OK. Then, I asked her what she thought. She agreed that is was OK and told me how much fun she had with them and their moms on that day's school field trip. For us, that was the end of the discussion-for the moment. I'm sure she will have more questions as she gets older, and as she asks them, I will answer them. For now, all she wanted to know was whether or not it was OK for kids to have two mommies, and when I told her it was, that was it. She's wasn't interested in hearing any more.
Incidentally, the couple we discussed loves WDW as much as DH and I do, but like us, they go off-season too in order to avoid the crowds.

 

[720L]

We were at MK on gay day. Lets just say we never want to do that again. If we would have had kids then we probably would have went to another park. Sorry it's just not for me! I don't want my kids to be mean to them, but I don't want them to think it's normal.

 

[chadfromdallas]

Originally posted by 720L
but I don't want them to think it's normal.

 

[Dznefreek]

I don't want them to think it's normal.

Why don't you define "normal" for us.

 

[720L]

Sorry!! That sounded wrong. I'm not a closed minded person really. Just not quite sure how I would talk to kids about it...we were uncomfortable that day, but as someone else mentioned teenagers usually do more pda than other people-i don't like that eithier! not picking on anybody

 

[Baloo]

Gentle reminder!


Let's keep this friendly,okay?


We're doing such a good job so far!


Thanks y'all!

 

[GarrettJD]

I agree with the advice of some of the others. Go to www.gaydays.com and look up their schedule, then avoid the parks that they have scheduled, mainly because that park will be MUCH more crowded than usual. If you don't do anything else, avoid the MK on Saturday (actually, this applies to EVERY Saturday, not just the first weekend in June.)

First rule of a succesful WDW vacation: go where the crowds AREN'T.

 

[mommyseven]

We went about eight years ago during Gay Day and didn't realize it right away. It was a few hours when I started noticing several same sex couples holding hands. I don't recall any other displays of affection other than holding hands. And I do believe that most children wouldn't notice because they are usually to busy with other things than watching the people.

This was eight years ago, but I would think that gay people would be no different than straight people. Too much public affection in a place occupied by primarily children isn't appropriate for gays or straights.

 

[lentesta]

Am I the only person who wanted to answer "What are Gay Days Like?" with "Faaaaabulous!"?

We've helped plan trips during GD festivities for both participants and non-participants. The only thing I'd suggest is to avoid each day's GD-designated park. That's just sensible theme park touring advice, not directions to shun anyone. We're all Mouseketeers in Mickey's eyes.

JMHO,

Len

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Dznefreek
First of all people need to realize there are Gay people in the park EVERYDAY! That particular Saturday just happens to be the day they go to MK.

Well ... yes. But also on all of those other days when there are gay people in the park, they're generally not all wearing red shirts and traveling in large groups and meeting at 3pm in front of the Castle to sing and doing all of the other things that are part of the unofficial schedule of Gay Day at MK. So it is a bit different. While you will certainly run into gay couples or groups of gay friends on any other day, Gay Day does cause some people to try and see how much they can get away with in the "suggestive dressing" department, and it does tend to be a day when there's more apt to be PDAs and behavior that might cause kids to wonder what the heck are all those people in red shirts doing?

It's like the people who ask what kind of effect Jersey Week will have, or how will the parks be impacted by the Cheerleading competitions. There are people from Jersey in the parks EVERYDAY! There are cheerleaders in the parks EVERYDAY! But yet, people still ask, because a large group of any kind all attending on one day is going to impact the parks more than just a few of them on any other given day.

 

[Hippychickali]

I understand that people want to avoid crowds and I have no problem with that and can't say I blame you. But for those of you who are uncomfortable with seeing same-sex couples, try to remember that you are the one uncomfortable and not necessarily your child(ren). Don't try to push it off on them. You can't avoid homosexuals forever so I agree with the poster who said that she took such times as opportunities for learning. I reiterate: Gay people are everywhere and it's wonderful. You're going to have to confront your own discomfort or biases somewhere along the line.

"Gay Day does cause some people to try and see how much they can get away with in the "suggestive dressing" department, and it does tend to be a day when there's more apt to be PDAs and behavior that might cause kids to wonder"

I don't think that's a fair statement.

Ali

They're here and they're queer!

 

[hawkie1]

We were there last year during Gay Day and will never go back at that time. The color red was everywhere. We saw extreme PDAs and attire. One young man was walking around with a makeshift sign, which was a napkin tucked into the top of his shirt, that said, "NOT GAY".

 

[RescueRanger]

Originally posted by Hippychickali
I understand that people want to avoid crowds and I have no problem with that and can't say I blame you. But for those of you who are uncomfortable with seeing same-sex couples, try to remember that you are the one uncomfortable and not necessarily your child(ren). Don't try to push it off on them. You can't avoid homosexuals forever so I agree with the poster who said that she took such times as opportunities for learning. I reiterate: Gay people are everywhere and it's wonderful. You're going to have to confront your own discomfort or biases somewhere along the line.

"Gay Day does cause some people to try and see how much they can get away with in the "suggestive dressing" department, and it does tend to be a day when there's more apt to be PDAs and behavior that might cause kids to wonder"

I don't think that's a fair statement.

Ali

OK, first let me say that I have gone during GayDays. I have printed out the schedule from their website and avoided those parks where things were scheduled. I normally don't say anything on these debates but I think something needs to be said. ALI- you do not raise my children or anyone elses. You can raise YOUR children however you want. Because of my religious beliefs, we do not agree with homosexuality. I do not need to teach my children that it is acceptible, and you cannot tell me how to raise my children. I have friends and family who are gay and I do not treat them any different than anyone else. However, these same people respect me and my views and know how I feel. You and others like you need to also RESPECT the fact that others have the right to disagree with your views. As I said before, I have never commented on this subject before because there are several gay members on these boards and most of them are very helpful. I respect their right to live as they want just as they should respect my rights. However, what gets my blood boiling is anyone who tries to tell me how to raise MY children. Sory everyone just had to vent.

 

[Pa@okw95]

I first started on these boards back in I think 1996 or 97 when it was just really only one board with all different subjects. Pete was still living in N.J. in those days. I must say that this is the best I have seen as far as behavior about this subject since I have been on these boards. I just wanted to add this as an observation. The subject comes up every year about this time. I have come a long way on this subject myself and it looks like a lot of other people have also.

 

[photobob]

I don't know if this has already been covered or not because I haven't read all the posts, but since I've been to WDW two previous times when Gay Days was going on I thought I'd put in my two cents worth. When we found out the first time we went that it coincided with Gay Days my wife was concerned and tried to change our travel dates and was unable to. We did research and found their website which has their schedule of events. We just chose not to visit the park they were visiting on that day. They main reason was we had young children and we worried about the crowds. The result basically was that it was a total non-factor to our trip, other than it gave me another thing to figure in my planning. BTW on my previous stays they made all parks Early Admission days on Saturday to encourage people to go to all parks since MK is such a mad house that day..

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Hippychickali
I don't think that's a fair statement.

It's what I've observed. Might be totally different than what you've seen.

 

[McCall]

Originally posted by Hippychickali
I understand that people want to avoid crowds and I have no problem with that and can't say I blame you. But for those of you who are uncomfortable with seeing same-sex couples, try to remember that you are the one uncomfortable and not necessarily your child(ren). Don't try to push it off on them. You can't avoid homosexuals forever so I agree with the poster who said that she took such times as opportunities for learning. I reiterate: Gay people are everywhere and it's wonderful. You're going to have to confront your own discomfort or biases somewhere along the line.

"Gay Day does cause some people to try and see how much they can get away with in the "suggestive dressing" department, and it does tend to be a day when there's more apt to be PDAs and behavior that might cause kids to wonder"

I don't think that's a fair statement.

Ali

They're here and they're queer!

You know what, it would be nice if you would stop telling people what to do and what to think . Of all the posts I have seen on this thread your's is the one's I see s doing that.

 

[brunette8706]

Walt Disney World as with other such child focused environments, do not seem to be the appropriate place to put so much emphasis on "very adult" and (what should be) private personal activities that two people share so openedly.....It's almost saying I'M GAY so deal with it! It's kinda like in your face type of an approach to let us know they're GAY. I don't wear a shirt that states "I'M STRAIGHT"! Bottom line issues of sex should not be so openedly encouraged, in an environment geared mostly towards kids.

brunette

 

[PeterPan20]

Originally posted by brunette8706
Bottom line issues of sex should not be so openedly encouraged, in an environment geared mostly towards kids.

brunette

Exactly, because homosexuality is simply about sex. Come on people, my sexuality extends into more of my life than just my bedroom. Homosexuality is about love and I love my partner more than anyone else in the world. I think WDW is about family, and he is my family.

Gay Days...and events like that have very little to do with an in-your-face, we're here, we're queer mentality (although that may be the case for some). They have everything to do with the fact that being gay is not an easy thing to deal with on a daily basis in a world and country that is full of so much hatred. These events happen because sometimes, if only for a weekend, it makes it a little bit easier to enjoy ourselves when we know that there is support around us. People who can understand, or at least accept what our lives are like.

I do not expect you to accept my lifestyle, and I certainly do not expect you to understand it, but at least leave it alone. You can raise your children to be as closed-minded as you want, but please do not expect others to do the same.