LGBTQ+ muny flocks to Disney and Florida for Gay Days | Fortune

Contents:

• WHAT DAYS ARE GAY DAYS AT DISNEY WORLD? EVERYTHG TO KNOW ABOUT THE RED SHIRT TRADN.
• GAY DAYS RETURNS TO WALT DISNEY WORLD AFTER 2-YEAR HIAT
• GAY DAYS AT DISNEY – CELEBRATE PRI & LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH
• GAY DAYS IS RETURNG TO DISNEYLAND & CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
• DETAILS ON GAY DAYS DISNEY WORLD THIS YEAR
• THE TTH ABOUT WHAT REALLY GO ON AT GAY DAYS AT DISNEYLAND
• GAY DAYS AT DISNEY WORLD AFTER TWO YEARS HIAT
• DISNEY GAY DAYS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
• DISNEY WORLD WEL THOANDS OF LGBTQ+ PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE GAY DAYS: ‘WE ARE HERE, WE ARE QUEER AND WE AREN’T GOG ANYWHERE’
• AFTER A POLIL STORM, GAY DAYS RETURN TO DISNEY
• GAY TRAVELERS GATHER AT DISNEY WORLD TO VATN AND MAKE A STATEMENT
• DISNEY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ADMS TO ‘GAY AGENDA,’ ‘ADDG QUEERNS’ WHEREVER SHE COULD

WHAT DAYS ARE GAY DAYS AT DISNEY WORLD? EVERYTHG TO KNOW ABOUT THE RED SHIRT TRADN.

'We have to be on guard a lot':Why safety first for so many LGBTQ travelers'I jt want to see more of ':The importance of seeg people like you while travelgHow did Gay Days get started? It has sce ballooned to an annual, multiday event, which draws upwards of 180, 000 people to the Orlando area om across the Fai:LGBTQ people need of stand- parents at weddgs, holidays fd 'fay' Facebook groupWhen are Gay Days 2023? Arguably the most proment part of Gay Days, red shirt daysare when participants wear red shirts to specific parks to celebrate their inty or support others.

GAY DAYS RETURNS TO WALT DISNEY WORLD AFTER 2-YEAR HIAT

For stance, June 1 is a red shirt day at Disney's Animal Kgdom and SeaWorld Orlando and June 2 is a red shirt day at Disney's Hollywood Studs and Universal Islands of attends Gay Days? Many Gay Days atten vis theme parks, but there are a host of other activi cludg popular pool parti, Drag Bgo, expos and more at the event's host hotel Orlando. Some events are adults-only, but most are open to all ag, cludg the Miss GayDays pageant, which this year will be hosted by CoCo Montre, who peted on "RuPl's Drag Race, " and Miss GayDays 2019 Twila actually par the event to a fay rnn, specifilly "the fay that gets along rnn.

Given the polil climate the state and last year's enactment of what crics ll Florida'sDon't Say Gay law rtrictg discsns of sexual orientatn and genr inty primary schools, Clark said some people have asked him if this year's event would still happen. This year’s “Gay Day” dat at Disneyland were announced last year, but more recently, the dat for Out & Equal’s workplace summ have been announced, and the Walt Disney World Rort is hostg. The Summ is takg place after Disney’s bacle wh Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who took over the Reedy Creek district and regaed ntrol of the pany’s self-erned powers as retaliatn for Disney’s disagreement wh the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

This also means the annual 'Gay Days' have begun at Walt Disney World for LGBTQ+ muny members and theme park lovers alike.Dpe an tense legal battle between the entertament pany and Gov.

GAY DAYS AT DISNEY – CELEBRATE PRI & LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH

Ron DeSantis after they spoke out agast the state's 'Don't Say Gay' bill last year, atten om across the globe are headg to the theme parks to kick off Pri Month.Insi sop on Gay Days om CEO:What days are Gay Days at Disney World? Disney fd sparks onle morsHere's what to know about the annual LGBTQ+ gatherg Orlando:What are 'Gay Days' at Disney World?Gay Days Orlando is where lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr (LGBT) dividuals, their fai, iends, and supporters go to Walt Disney World. Along wh days at the theme parks, lol hotels and tablishments hold events to mark the six-day event.What is the signifince of the red shirt durg Gay Days?Arguably the most proment part of Gay Days, participants wear red shirts to specific parks to celebrate their inty or support others.Back at the origal gatherg, attendants wore red shirts to make their prence more visible to other members of the muny.Now, the red shirt self has bee a movement, wh LGBTQ nonprof Kdred Pri Foundatn g as a symbol for s missn to spread diversy and kdns.When did the event first start?The first documented event was held June 1991 where roughly 3,000 LGBTQ+ people om central Florida went to the area's theme parks on one day wearg red shirts.

Some reports claim was held even before then wh only a handful of people startg the event.In 1995, the event had grown to over 10,000 gays and lbians travelg for 'Gay Day' at Disney.By the 2010s, the event had reached over 150,000 LGBT people, their fai, iends and supporters attend the six-day gatherg Orlando.When are Gay Days happeng this year?This year, Disney Gay Days is takg place om May 31 to June 4.Gay Days Orlando weekend lendar 2023FridayWalt Disney World's Hollywood Studs - 8:30 a.m.

GAY DAYS IS RETURNG TO DISNEYLAND & CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

To 5 p.m.See the rt of the lendar and other events here.What n you do durg Gay Days outsi of the parks?Many Gay Days atten vis theme parks, but there are a host of other activi cludg popular pool parti, Drag Bgo, expos, and more at the event's host hotel Orlando.This year, there will also be a new Beach Ball waterpark party at Aquati Orlando, which is an event sponsor.Do Disney sponsor Gay Days?Disney do not sponsor or promote Gay Days, however, s Parks & Rorts divisn celebrat Pri Month by lnchg a themed llectn ahead of time.Are there preutns this year wh recent anti-LGBTQ legislatn?Dpe the current turmoil between Gov. Ron DeSantis, Disney, and recent legislatn passed, the event is still gog on and many regular Gay Day atten have ma the trek to Orlando this year.In April, the natn's largt LGBTQ advocy group Equaly Florida issued a travel advisory for the LGBTQ+ muny warng members not to e to the state. Florida HB 1521 - requir people to e bathrooms that le up wh their sex assigned at birth.What special merch do Gay Days have this year?On May 15, Disney released s 2023 Pri Collectn, which they claim was created by members and alli of the LGBTQIA+ muny.

— Tens of thoands of LGBTQ people are flockg to central Florida this weekend to go on theme park ris, mgle wh stumed performers, dance at all-night parti and lounge poolsi at hotels durg Gay Days, a s-long though Gov. And other civil rights anizatns to issue warngs the Sunshe State may no longer be safe — Gay Days anizers are still enuragg visors om around the world to e to one of Florida’s largt gay and lbian say a large turnout will send a msage that LGBTQ people are not gog away Florida, which is ntually one of the most popular stat for tourists to vis.

DETAILS ON GAY DAYS DISNEY WORLD THIS YEAR

If the hoped-for 150, 000 or more visors e to the half-week of pool parti, drag bgo and thrill ris at Orlando’s theme parks and hotels, then “that’s the pot, ” said Joseph Clark, CEO of Gay Days Inc. ”It’s not lost on the anizers that the highlight of the weekend will be a Saturday meetup of LGBTQ visors at the Magic Kgdom at Walt Disney World, where the first Gay Days started as a sgle-day celebratn 1991. Currently, Disney is embroiled a legal fight wh DeSantis over the ernor and Republin lawmakers’ takeover of Disney World’s erng district — after Disney officials publicly opposed legislatn that crics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.

“It’s ls a csa and more like, ‘I’m not gog to spend my money where bad thgs are gog on, ’” Hayn Days has survived past challeng, cludg the early years when Disney posted signs at the Magic Kgdom’s entrance warng visors there was a large gatherg of gays and lbians and offerg pass to other parks for guts who might be offend. Over the last three s, though, the theme parks and rorts have thrown down the wele mats as Gay Days has bee a profable bounce between the sprg break and out-of-school summer crowds.

THE TTH ABOUT WHAT REALLY GO ON AT GAY DAYS AT DISNEYLAND

Durg Gay Days the 1990s, hundreds of anti-abortn activists wh Operatn Rcue protted outsi Walt Disney World, and the Southern Baptist Conventn ced the gatherg llg for a boytt of all thgs Disney.

Some Christian groups tried to buy air time durg Gay Days the late 1990s to prsure people to renounce their sexual orientatn, but mastream TV statns Orlando rejected the ads. Whether you are planng to attend Disneyland Gay Days or vis June, here are some important tails on how you n show or support Pri all year long!

Even though Disneyland do not prent Gay Days, the event's sponsors clu Disney’s Aulani Hotel, Adventur by Disney, Disney Vatn Club and Disney Pri, which is the pany’s LGBT diversy group.

GAY DAYS AT DISNEY WORLD AFTER TWO YEARS HIAT

Gay Days at Disneyland ually fall on Saturdays, while Gay Days at Disney California Adventure ually fall on Sundays (the official schle out June 2023) — but you'll see atten park hoppg throughout the weekend as well. Disneyland Gay Days do brg que a few people, and the impact has on crowds is growg every year — along wh the generally higher crowds the parks see on weekends. If you already have vatn plans for the Gay Days weekend, don't let the promise of creased crowds stop you, but make sure to arrive ahead of park openg for each day of your trip.

If you're really ncerned about the crowds and have a trip planned on the days, then look up the Gay Days schle onle and see the group meals and meet-ups.

DISNEY GAY DAYS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Over the years, we have seen (and enjoyed!) special Gay Days ssert menu ems, and even some meal packag at several quick-service rtrants each park all weekend.

Acrdg to the event webse, the LGBTQ+ celebratn is prised of multiple events staged at world-famo attractns, gay & lbian nightclubs, and unique venu secured for the purpose of creatg an clive LGBTQ atmosphere. “Gay Days began 1991 as a sgle signated day (always the first Saturday June) when the LGBTQ muny and iends were enuraged to ‘Wear Red and Be Seen’ (aka #RedShirtDay) while visg the world’s most popular theme parks, ” lears scribed on the event’s return to Walt Disney World amid ntroversy surroundg the recent signg of Florida’s Parental Rights Edutn law, known to s crics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. “Recently the CEO of the Walt Disney Company ially rpond to the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill which he thought bt to oppose the legislatn ‘behd the scen’ and has sce faced tremendo cricism and backlash for how the pany has rpond to such an impactful bill, ” the anizatn said a statement.

“We hope that the recent events will enurage our atten more than ever to attend Gay Days Orlando 2022 this g June as now is the time to e together and show the world the immortal words of Queer Natn ‘We’re here.

DISNEY WORLD WEL THOANDS OF LGBTQ+ PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE GAY DAYS: ‘WE ARE HERE, WE ARE QUEER AND WE AREN’T GOG ANYWHERE’

From the eedom to jt be yourself at the place Where Dreams Come Te to Disney characters like Ursula and Gaston who have bee gay ins, magic happens when Disney and the LGBT+ muny une. From the st members that make magic for guts every day to the Imageers that work behd the scen to dream up beloved experienc, you’d be hard-prsed to turn the rner a Disney theme park whout g face-to-face wh somethg or someone that hasn’t been touched by or isn’t a part of the gay muny. Although, Disneyland Paris did host the first-ever Disney-sponsored gay pri event, the Magil Pri Party, 2019 and, for 2023, Disneyland Rort is offerg s very first Disneyland After Dark: Pri Ne.

Each year (except for 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19), lbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and other queer people – along wh their fay, iends, and LGBTQ+ alli – make the annual pilgrimage to Central Florida to celebrate Pri Month wh Gay Days at Disney World and other area theme parks, cludg Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and Disvery Cove. What started as a sgle-day event June 1991 wh around 3, 000 members of the lol LGBT muny at Disney’s Magic Kgdom, Gay Days has sce expand to a massive near-weeklong, cywi extravaganza wh over 180, 000 atten om around the world.

AFTER A POLIL STORM, GAY DAYS RETURN TO DISNEY

Origally anized by the Gay, Lbian, and Bisexual Communy Center of Orlando (GLBCC), today the celebratn is a team effort wh parti, special events, and the GayDays Expo thrown by a number of different queer anizatns at GayDays Host Hotels and other lotns throughout Orlando. While the unofficial uniform of Gay Days was origally jt a practil suggtn, makg easier to fd each other among the crowds, the sea of red is now a way of sayg to the world, “We’re here, we’re queer, get ed to . Lunchtime get-togethers and ri meetups for gay fai and different LGBTQ muni, like lunch at Hungry Bear Rtrant or a plunge down Grizzly River Run for the bears, let atten spend some qualy time wh their tribe.

From September 17th-19th, thoands of people will don the signature Gay Days red shirt and meet up for trivia, svenger hunts, ri takeovers, parti, photoshoots, and so much more. The Southern Baptists would have you believe that Gay Days is a time when we viants brg all of our viant behavr to Walt’s sacred fay statn and try to poison wh our agenda. Rather, what happens durg Gay Days is that, for one weekend of the year, we get to be the majory stead of the mory; we get to walk down Ma Street holdg the hands of our partners whout worryg about the star we attract; we get to gather wh our fai of choice at Ameri’s favore fay statn and feel like other fai feel every sgle day.

GAY TRAVELERS GATHER AT DISNEY WORLD TO VATN AND MAKE A STATEMENT

Somethg magil happens at Gay Days that you never see at Disneyland on any other weekend; on other days, people’s foc tends to be on the people wh whom they arrived.

The Gay Days Orlando Expo, loted the Gay Days Host Hotel, offers an exceptnal opportuny for Gay Days atten to view and sample goods and servic specifilly targetg our muny durg their vatn.

It is also perfect for lols to e and enjoy this Expo as part of Orlando's annual Gay Days celebratn & Gay Day the Magic are many other great events happeng at the Gay Days Host Hotel that you n attend before or after you vis the Expo.

DISNEY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ADMS TO ‘GAY AGENDA,’ ‘ADDG QUEERNS’ WHEREVER SHE COULD

In terms of the LGBTQ+ muny, though, Disney’s relatnship go far eper, and has veloped ways the pany self n never have Disney was never a rd-rryg homophobe but he was a steadfast nservative, and long after his ath 1966, Disney’s output ntued to promote “tradnal” and “fay” valu. That didn’t disunt “dg” Disney characters (ually villas) as queer, that they exhibed stereotypilly gay attribut such as effemate behavur or distert the oppose sex: Jafar Aladd, for example, or Sr The Ln Kg, or even Shere Khan the tiger The Jungle Book. One of the unsung LGBTQ+ hero of Disney lore, for example, is Howard Ashman, the openly gay lyricist and producer, who died of an Aids-related illns 1991.