Gay Days returns to Disneyland on a new weekend after a panmic pse – Orange County Register

Contents:

• WHAT DAYS ARE GAY DAYS AT DISNEY WORLD? EVERYTHG TO KNOW ABOUT THE RED SHIRT TRADN.
• GAY DAYS AT DISNEY – CELEBRATE PRI & LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH
• GAY DAYS 2023 AT DISNEYLAND RORT CONFIRMED, DAT REVEALED - INSI THE MAGIC
• DAT ANNOUNCED FOR GAY DAYS DISNEY WORLD
• LGBTQ PEOPLE FLOCK TO FLORIDA FOR DISNEY'S GAY DAYS CELEBRATN
• GAY DAYS RETURNS TO WALT DISNEY WORLD AFTER 2-YEAR HIAT
• DISNEY GAY DAYS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
• AFTER A POLIL STORM, GAY DAYS RETURN TO DISNEY
• GAY DAYS RETURNS TO DISNEY WORLD AMID ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ NTROVERSY
• DETAILS ON GAY DAYS DISNEY WORLD THIS YEAR
• GAY DAYS AT DISNEY WORLD AFTER TWO YEARS HIAT
• GAY DAYS WILL RETURN TO DISNEYLAND 2021!

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?

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

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 2023 AT DISNEYLAND RORT CONFIRMED, DAT REVEALED - INSI THE MAGIC

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.

DAT ANNOUNCED FOR GAY DAYS DISNEY WORLD

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.

Way before the teemg Red Shirt-wearg mass began scendg upon the Disney Parks for Gay Days, queer people have long had a love affair wh Disney. 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. A gifted dtrial signer, Bob, then a closeted gay man, was ved to jo Walt Disney Imageerg – lled WED Enterpris at the time – by Walt himself. 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.

LGBTQ PEOPLE FLOCK TO FLORIDA FOR DISNEY'S GAY DAYS CELEBRATN

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.

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 . There’s even the Gay Biz Expo wh exhibors toutg everythg om fashn, travel, and weddgs to fancial planng servic, healthre, and home renovatns.

Girls jt want to have fun, and for over 20 years, Girls Wonrland has been helpg queer women do jt that durg Gay Days Orlando. 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. In the 1990s, the gural Gay Days h Disneyland and Walt Disney World Rort – thoands of members of the LGBTQIA+ muny held an unofficial meetup at Magic Kgdom and Disneyland Park.

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

In the 1990s, before the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage natnwi, The Walt Disney Company offered gay and lbian employe surance for their partners. Other nservative Republin policians like Senator Josh Hawley and Senator Mar Rub publicly attacked Disney for s stance on the law and refal to censor a gay kiss Pixar’s Lightyear (2022).

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. 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.

DISNEY GAY DAYS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

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. 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.

AFTER A POLIL STORM, GAY DAYS RETURN TO DISNEY

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. Note that you mt have a valid park ticket, as well as a park pass rervatn to attend any of the Gay Day celebratns the parks.

— 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. Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers have champned a slew of anti-LGBTQ laws — spurrg the most proment gay rights group the U.

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.

GAY DAYS RETURNS TO DISNEY WORLD AMID ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ NTROVERSY

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.

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.

DETAILS ON GAY DAYS DISNEY WORLD THIS YEAR

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. 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.

”The Walt Disney Company, one of the world’s biggt media and entertament empir, pris self on a lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer (LGBTQ) iendly culture. But today s reputatn for clivy and tolerance is unr scty – as are s ep ti to the polil tablishment and the lack of LGBTQ reprentatn s ’s workers have been stagg walkouts prott at chief executive Bob Chapek’s lackltre rponse to Florida legislatn dubbed “don’t say gay”.

GAY DAYS AT DISNEY WORLD AFTER TWO YEARS HIAT

But their prejudic were laid bare by a tweet om Christa Phaw, prs secretary for Florida’s ernor, Ron DeSantis, that said: “The bill that liberals accurately ll ‘don’t say gay’ would be more accurately scribed as an anti-groomg bill.

It has been nmned as “hateful” by Joe Bin and other Democrats who argue that monis LGBTQ, prs secretary of the LGBTQ rights anisatn Equaly Florida and a survivor of the Pulse nightclub shootg 2016, says: “The ‘don’t say gay bill’ was dubbed that by the muny bee is a bigoted, very specifilly anti-LGBTQ piece of legislatn signed to censor classroom speech about our muny. Photograph: Chris Pizzello/Invisn/APYet the “don’t say gay” bill wrong-footed Chapek, who succeed Bob Iger as chief executive Febary 2020. They give to a lot of Democrats, bee they want those Democrats to be on their si too, but they have given a disproportnate amount to Republin legislators, many of whom supported and voted for the ‘don’t say gay’ bill.

GAY DAYS WILL RETURN TO DISNEYLAND 2021!

The Human Rights Campaign has said will stop acceptg money om Disney “until we see them build on their public mment and work wh LGBTQ+ advot to ensure that dangero proposals, like Florida’s ‘don’t say gay or trans’ bill, don’t bee dangero laws” Whehall and Ey Blunt Jungle Cise. Eric Marc, creator and host of the Makg Gay History podst, says: “Disney has cultivated an LGBTQ-iendly image, both through their cln of LGBTQ characters recent years and wh their employe, so ’s shockg but not shockg that the CEO would have been so flat-footed. Photograph: APFor s the stud’s output was steadfastly heterosexual even though s creative talents clud gay people such as Howard Ashman, an Osr wner who wrote the lyrics for The Ltle Mermaid and Bety and the Beast before his ath om Aids has been some progrs sce then wh a growg LGBTQ portrayals films and TV shows and the sellg of LGBTQ pri-themed merchandise at Disney stor.