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Melaniee
10-06-2004, 10:21 PM
My mom sent me some song & dance about a co-worker's kids birthday being ruined b/c it was gay day and people had vulgar shirts. Anyway, just wondering if anyone was there and it was true and what was up with the shirts? Does Disney not ask people to change offensive clothing? I heard other amusement parks do.

Oh, and I'm making NO commentary on the Gay Day or anything like that (except if people did have truly vulgar shirts...), just checking up on her story.

TIA

Darkbeer
10-06-2004, 10:33 PM
First off, yes, last weekend (October 2nd and 3rd) was Gay Days at the DLR.

I only stopped by late on Sunday, and DCA wasn't that packed with red shirts....

As for Offensive shirts, they used to monitor it, but nowadays, it seems like freedom of speech has won out, and Disney can't really do anything.

I know that some parks have a "gang related" clause that doen't allow "colors" to be worn, but that is all I have heard of.

Melaniee
10-06-2004, 10:42 PM
Were the shirts just the "Gay Day II" ones or was it something else?

There was an uproar on another board I read about some kid being escorted out of a park (universal I think) for having a play-on-words shirt that sounded out to something offensive.

Thanks for the info.

FantasmicFanatic
10-06-2004, 10:51 PM
I was there and weraing red! There were no offensive shirts I saw. I mean some did have the word "gay" on them, that might be offensive to some. I remember last year someone had a very funny shirt that said "I got rear-ended on the Autopia", but I think that was actually purchased at the Autopia gift shop. Some people just don't like finding out that their vacation to the park happens to be on the same weekend as gay days. I had a blast! (even though there was no Fantasmic)

-FF

cryan71
10-06-2004, 11:06 PM
There's no such thing as Gay Day -- it was all a dream.

I Heart Disneyland!
10-06-2004, 11:40 PM
I was there and weraing red! There were no offensive shirts I saw. I mean some did have the word "gay" on them, that might be offensive to some. I remember last year someone had a very funny shirt that said "I got rear-ended on the Autopia", but I think that was actually purchased at the Autopia gift shop. Some people just don't like finding out that their vacation to the park happens to be on the same weekend as gay days. I had a blast! (even though there was no Fantasmic)

-FF

My goodness how sad our world has become that people of ALL walks of life cannot walk a MAJOR theme park, with loved ones, and not have people get up in arms about this being "GAY DAY". Good grief! I have so many really important things to worry about in my life. To worry that I might be at DL on a day that is designated as such is such a waste of my time! ha! Personally, I have taught my children to accept everyone, and sure wouldn't worry about them being at DL with gay people!!! Wear that red shirt proud!!! :) (Love the Autopia tshirt saying, too funny!)

stan4d_steph
10-07-2004, 04:58 AM
I remember last year someone had a very funny shirt that said "I got rear-ended on the Autopia", but I think that was actually purchased at the Autopia gift shop.No, that was a homemade shirt. I can see how some of the innuendo on shirts could be offensive. However, offensive sayings on shirts aren't exclusive to Gay Day. It's up to the people at the front gates to enforce any kind of dress code, and enforcement seems to be spotty.

pokeypoke
10-07-2004, 05:51 AM
My wife and I happened to be at DL last year during Gay Day. Our weekend wasn't ruined because of a large group of people wearing red t-shirts with "Gay Day" printed on them. We were having too much fun and NOTHING was spoiling our day. In fact, we met a spoke to a few people (wearing red t-shirts) and inquired about what was going on. The people we spoke to and observed in the park were having a great time (as well as my wife and I). I doubt this co-worker's kid's birthday was ruined because of gays and lesbians being in the park wearing red shirts. It was ruined because the parent was the only one to make an issue out of it, NOT the kid. My God, some people need to get a life!

pokey

sdfilmcritic
10-07-2004, 05:57 AM
My wife and I happened to be at DL last year during Gay Day. Our weekend wasn't ruined because of a large group of people wearing red t-shirts with "Gay Day" printed on them. We were having too much fun and NOTHING was spoiling our day. In fact, we met a spoke to a few people (wearing red t-shirts) and inquired about what was going on. The people we spoke to and observed in the park were having a great time (as well as my wife and I). I doubt this co-worker's kid's birthday was ruined because of gays and lesbians being in the park wearing red shirts. It was ruined because the parent was the only one to make an issue out of it, NOT the kid. My God, some people need to get a life!
The same thing could be said about Bats Day (which occured back in August). I was at the park with my family on Bats Day and the only one who was "affected" by it was my mom. She seemed rather behoved to see so many Goths hanging out at the park and, of course, some of the interesting outfits they wore that day.

stan4d_steph
10-07-2004, 06:21 AM
It sounds like the person who took offense may have been more offended because it was Gay Day, but it's not clear. I don't have a problem with gay people, but I do think everyone, gay, straight, or whatever, should show better judgement when deciding what to wear to Disneyland. It's a family park, so shirts with vulgar sayings or sexual innuendo are inappropriate.

sdfilmcritic
10-07-2004, 06:25 AM
...but I do think everyone, gay, straight, or whatever, should show better judgement when deciding what to wear to Disneyland. It's a family park, so shirts with vulgar sayings or sexual innuendo are inappropriate.
Trying convincing straight people of that too! You mentioned it already in the post, but I thought I should emphasize it.

tink1234
10-07-2004, 07:01 AM
Just a side question, as I am ignorant on the topic. I had always thought that the Gay Pride movement used rainbow colored things for their symbols. So what is the significance of red? Is it just the color they chose or is it the "official" color?

itig
10-07-2004, 07:42 AM
I think that was just so they could spot each other. In light of your mention of the rainbow thing...don't they sell rainbow mickey antenna toppers at the park? Anyone know the story behind those...just curious.

DCACM
10-07-2004, 08:25 AM
As for Offensive shirts, they used to monitor it, but nowadays, it seems like freedom of speech has won out, and Disney can't really do anything.No, we can and we do. Security usually enforces it, but all of us are empowered to act. If a guest is wearing something offensive and vulgar or too revealing and detracts from the "show" we'll approach them (non-confontationally) and request they change their shirt or turn it inside out.

A shirt that is merely red and says "Gay Day" is acceptable.

But...
If your clothing has sexually explicit graphics/words, hate messages, infirnges on the rights of others or drug references, you can count on being spoken with by a CM.

As for "revealing" clothing, we draw the line at exposed pubic hair and nipples. Goes for men and boys too-keep those shirts on! Unfortuantley, bathing suits are now permitted, though a male must wear a shirt with his, and a female must wear shorts with hers (little girls too!).

If you see a guest with offensive clothing, by all means, let a CM know. Preferably Security or a Lead.

Sheila
10-07-2004, 09:55 AM
I think that was just so they could spot each other. In light of your mention of the rainbow thing...don't they sell rainbow mickey antenna toppers at the park? Anyone know the story behind those...just curious.

No, those antenna toppers have nothing to do with Gay Day (this topic has been brought up before). I don't quite remember the story, but I believe they were originally sold at WDW for a different reason.

Where is AVP with the answer? I know she knows it.

Sheila

adriennek
10-07-2004, 09:57 AM
I was at Disneyland last weekend and did not see any offensive tshirts. I saw some shirts that I thought were cute plays on words; one said something like "It feels good to get out." I thought that was cute. Some said, "Gay day II" :eek:

As a side note: some people we know were visiting this weekend and I told them ahead of time: "I don't know how you're going to feel about this but I'd like you to not be surprised- This weekend is the unofficial Gay Days at Disneyland. You can expect to see large groups of people wearing red shirts and you might see some same-sex couples holding hands. Personally, I don't find the behavior on Gay days to be offensive and I would not change my plans, but I wanted you to be aware going into it." (Some in their group might have been uncomfortable- not my place to judge.)

When we saw them on Sunday they said that they saw some red shirts but were expecting to see many more and they saw absolutely nothing that bothered, concerned, or offended them.

[Judgemental hat]Kids are usually pretty accepting and go with the flow. They aren't usually offended unless an adult teaches them to be offended. I've seen it with my own sons. My sons are offended by the things I've told them about. There are things that bother me that I haven't told them about. Those roll right off their backs.[/jugmental hat]

Adrienne

cstephens
10-07-2004, 09:58 AM
My mom sent me some song & dance about a co-worker's kids birthday being ruined b/c it was gay day and people had vulgar shirts.

Did she say why it was ruined? Was it just because it was gay day or was it because they had vulgar shirts or did something else happen?

If it was just because it was gay day, then my feeling is that they allowed it to be ruined just because of that fact. If it was because of a vulgar shirt, then I'll agree with others that such a thing is not limited to gay day as it probably happens all the time. If something else happened, I'd be curious to know what.

itig
10-07-2004, 10:00 AM
Thanks for the reply Sheila. I've only been on the boards a few days, so....danger, newbie posts may inadvertantly occur :)

Bill Catherall
10-07-2004, 10:01 AM
But I'm confused how a birthday can be ruined by someone wearing a vulgar shirt. Unless of course the vulgar-shirt-wearing hoodlum crashed the party, stepped on the cake, and broke all the presents, but you really can't blame the shirt.

Sheila
10-07-2004, 10:11 AM
Thanks for the reply Sheila. I've only been on the boards a few days, so....danger, newbie posts may inadvertantly occur :)

Oops, sorry if there was any implication that you missed a very recent post. The topic was discussed much earlier and a *lot* of time spent on whether Disney would make a "gay" product, blah blah blah. Oh my heavens, it went on and on.... ;)

Welcome to the boards, itig!! There's a thread in Lounge where you can introduce yourself and read about what the other posters are like. :)

Sheila

merlinjones
10-07-2004, 10:15 AM
>>Just a side question, as I am ignorant on the topic. I had always thought that the Gay Pride movement used rainbow colored things for their symbols. So what is the significance of red? Is it just the color they chose or is it the "official" color?<<

Rainbow Flag
Pink Triangle
Lavender

I'll bet the red shirts were originally chosen to loudly stand out from the crowd...

hefferdude
10-07-2004, 10:25 AM
Just a side question, as I am ignorant on the topic. I had always thought that the Gay Pride movement used rainbow colored things for their symbols. So what is the significance of red? Is it just the color they chose or is it the "official" color?

Go Angels!!!!!!! :fez:

AVP
10-07-2004, 10:33 AM
Go Angels!!!!!!! :fez:No, no, that was two years ago. :D

Oh, and as for the rainbow antenna toppers. I know they were originally sold at WDW, and were imported to Disneyland months later. They arrived a week or so before Gay Days a couple of years ago. Some of the Disneyland merchandise managers had them placed prominently at the cash registers as an "impulse" item for that weekend, but I've never believed that they were created for Gay Days, anymore than the Rainbow Mickey and Rainbow Minnie pins were created for the events.

But I certainly can't blame the store managers for knowing their market. My store prominently displays ice skater figurines the weekends that the ice rink next door holds competitions. It's just taking advantage of the traffic - it's smart business.

AVP

Disneyphile
10-07-2004, 10:50 AM
I was there last Saturday, and if people weren't wearing red shirts, no one would ever have known it was Gay Day. I saw a few couples holding hands, and that's about it. I've seen much worse behavior from heterosexual teens.

As Bill said, I'm also curious as to how the kid's birthday was "ruined".

Melaniee
10-07-2004, 12:33 PM
As Bill said, I'm also curious as to how the kid's birthday was "ruined".


Yeah, so am I. That's pretty much what I said to my mom, too. The kid is TWO, how can it be ruined if the parents are not reacting in a certain way? :rolleyes:

Anyway, thanks for your respectful responses. I figured that was the case (about the shirts).