Glad To See Someone Saying it
Via the Anchoress, an interesting article by a gay man who runs an enormous unofficial Disney World website, and whose support for the "homosexual agenda" (along with its Powerpoint) is outweighed by his love of the Mouse:
I�ve watched over the years as Gay Days has grown in scope and size. What once was a small group of well meaning gay men and lesbians has grown � and in my opinion, deformed � into what is now nothing more than a vile spectacle of self indulgence and indecency.. . . .
Over the years I have heard about, and have witnessed, what is commonly referred to as PDA (public displays of affection) during gay days, and almost always it�s done in full view of a family, or at least children. I don�t care if you�re straight or gay, there are some things kids don�t need to see � and trust me, two queens frenching outside Cinderella castle is really high on that list.
How true. And before anyone jumps on me for saying it, let me say also that if I were to arrange for myself and several thousand other heterosexuals to show up for PDA-Day (well, assuming I knew my ass from my Axim), and we spent the hours in the sun making like an oversexed episode of the O.C., I'd hope the religious right, reasonable homosexuals, maybe even Maureen Dowd and Ann Coulter would unite in calling me a cad. Hey, Disney set up a whole separate area of the park as an "adult playground," albeit probably with less latex than the term normally evokes among adults. The problem with Gay Day isn't that society shouldn't respect homosexuality, but that adults should respect that in some areas sexuality has no place. Donald Duck wears no pants, but it's not risque because we're not supposed to be wondering what he and Daisy (or Goofy, for that matter) get up to without them.
I'd hit the obvious counterargument, but Mr. Werner did it so well:
The argument is often put forth that since Christian groups congregate at Disney World, why not us? Fair enough, except that the �Night of Joy� (the Christian concert that takes place at the Magic Kingdom each year) is a hard ticket event � meaning that it�s not open to the public, and requires separate admission. The Magic Kingdom is closed down to the public at a certain time, and only those people that CHOOSE to be there are allowed in. Families that come to the Magic Kingdom on Gay Days are not afforded the luxury of choice. Since Disney does not sanction the event, it�s not mentioned anywhere, or to anyone booking a reservation during that week. If �Gay Day� at the Magic Kingdom was a hard ticket event like the Night of Joy, sign me up. But it�s not � it�s far from it. Trust me, if a religious group organized 100,000 Christians to go and �make yourself known� in the Magic Kingdom one day a year � and began rubbing their lifestyles in the faces of visitors by preaching to them as they tried to ride Space Mountain � plenty of people would be up in arms.
Here, here to both ideas. Any preacher trying to heckle the queued-up masses deserves a sudden bolt of heavenly disapproval.
Of course, as the Anchoress points out, Mr. Werner will now never get either Senator Schumer's or Planned Parenthood's support if he's ever nominated to the judiciary. Let's hope he doesn't hope for a career on a federal court of appeals.
Update: Even worse, when you think about it, is the several times that Mr. Werner feels compelled in his essay to stop and assert his liberal credentials. "I have a liberal streak that cuts through me like a hot knife through butter..." "And before I get any emails from my gay brethren calling me a �self loathing aunt tom� (someone actually called me that once), let me be clear � I�m proud of who and what I am." There's something a bit disturbing about this, not in Werner's words, but in that he thinks his natural political allies require him to say such things merely because he wants the Magic Kingdom to keep its twinkle. Glad you're proud of yourself, Mr. Werner. I'm proud of you, too.
Comments
Posted by: Jen | June 6, 2005 4:41 AM
Posted by: martin | June 6, 2005 8:30 AM
Posted by: A. Rickey | June 6, 2005 10:38 AM
Posted by: Tony the Pony | June 6, 2005 2:33 PM
Posted by: martin | June 7, 2005 4:00 AM
Posted by: A. Rickey | June 7, 2005 8:01 AM
Posted by: Right Thinking Girl | June 7, 2005 11:28 AM
Posted by: martin | June 7, 2005 11:39 AM
Posted by: A. Rickey | June 7, 2005 11:47 AM
I�m the first to agree, the gay community has a sex issue. I�ve read all sorts of arguments, on both sides, but I still feel like the gay image could use a little more restraint when it comes to overt sexuality.
That said, the writer�s primary complaint seems to be that gay men go to Disney and kiss. And, as others have pointed out � so what? The over-the-top �orgy� comparison is foolish. I�ve gone to Disney plenty of times, and people kiss. Even French Kiss. Gay people should be allowed to do so as well (though, I agree that full on pawing of one another while waiting for �it�s a small world� is out of bounds).
You then go one too say the problem isn�t the kissing, but that the 5 year old boys shouldn�t have to questions their own sexuality, or some such. This is the same double standard that Martin points out. Man-Woman kissing � no questions. Man-Man kissing- EGADS!
Further weakening the original writer�s observation/complaint is his attack of what happens at the �host� hotel. My god � beer trucks, and lubricant ads. At Disney?!! Well, no. At a hotel not on the Disney properties � which has been reserved exclusively for this event. Just like other hotels get reserved by college students at Spring Break. No worries of kids, here (unless brought by the gay couples). Unless, the writer is saying that there should be no gay partying anywhere in Orlando.
Listen, I�ve never been to a Gay Day � I have no strong need to. However, if groups want to organize a gay party involving Disney � why shouldn�t they be able to? If Disney was really all that worried about the impact on the 5 year old boys, they would find a way to discourage the event. It wouldn�t be that hard to do. Not only do they not discourage it, they quietly encourage it. Why? Because, deep down inside Disney is about the bottom line. If having Gay Days in June was caring away large populations of non-gay Disney patrons, then Disney would end it.
Apparently, they don�t seem too concerned.
Posted by: Henry | June 22, 2005 11:49 AM
Posted by: A. Rickey | June 26, 2005 1:32 PM