ORLANDO: Towing Company Owner Busted For Targeting Gay Days Attendees

Via Orlando's WKMG-TV:

Orange County deputies arrested on Friday the owner of a towing company who they say was illegally towing vehicles during the annual Gay Days celebration and appeared to target its attendees. The owner of ASAP Towing, Jason Combs, 44, has been charged with grand theft, failure to release vehicle, failing to maintain records, failure to post towing contracts, failure to notify the sheriff's office within 30 minutes of a tow and violating an Orange County ordinance. Deputies said Combs' arrest stems from numerous complaints against ASAP Towing for allegedly illegally towing vehicles from the Westwood Town Center June 5-9, which coincides with Gay Days. The celebration is hosted at the Doubletree Hilton across the street from the center at 10100 International Drive.

Combs has been charged with more than 100 counts of grand theft auto and is being held in the Orange County jail on a $51,000 bond.

This Is Your Final Warning

As it has done for several years, this weekend the Florida Family Association will fly anti-gay banner planes over the Magic Kingdom.

Janet Porter Has The Gay Disney Sadz

HomoQuotable - Pete Werner

"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. I can’t help but think of, and feel sorry for – the unsuspecting family who saved for years for a once in a lifetime trip – only to arrive and find that Disney had in fact, been invaded by he-women and shaved down muscle boys. By itself that would not be a problem, but the sheer number of people who seem to go out of their way to rub their sexuality in everyones face during this ‘event’ is nothing short of disgraceful. Is the Magic Kingdom REALLY the place for a 5 year old to ask his father why those two men are kissing? Is it really up to any person to decide for that parent when, or if, they will have that conversation with their child? I’ve always believed the best way we, as gay men and lesbians, could further our cause was to simply live our lives openly, and with dignity. Not hide in shame, and not force our beliefs or lifestyle down anyone else's throat." - Pete Werner, posting to the popular Disney theme parks fan site that he founded and moderates.

RELATED: Porno Pete has gleefully posted a lengthy excerpt from Werner's rant on Matt Barber's hate site.

UPDATE: JMG reader Suzanne writes to note that Werner originally posted the above-linked essay in 2006. It was been republished this year with the below headlines.

FLORIDA: Haters Fly Usual Gay Days "Warning" Banner Over Walt Disney World

The Orlando Sentinel reports on what has become an annual tradition during Gay Days at Disney:

The plane appeared to be making loops from as far north as Altamonte Springs to as far south as Belle Isle, but it was hard to tell from the ground. The "warning" is in reponse to "Gay Days" at Walt Disney World, a tradition where thousands of gays gather at the theme park. The "6/1" refers to June 1, the day of the event held Walt Disney World. The Florida Family Association paid $16,400 to to fly the three banners, according to a release from the Tampa-based conservative organization. "The primary objective of this project is to warn families before they expose their children to Gay Day’s revelry and before they pay Disney for parking and admission," the release states.

A second banner is delivering the same message in Spanish. (Photo by JMG reader Austin)

ORLANDO: Rainbow Merchandise Appears In Disney World Shops For Gay Days

Disney has always rebuffed complaints about Gay Days by pointing out that the events are unofficial and that everybody is welcome to enjoy their parks. The Orlando Sentinel points out that this year rainbow-themed official Disney items have appeared in the parks' gift shops.

Earlier this week, Disney began to sprinkle merchandise throughout its parks with designs including rainbows, symbol of the gay-pride movement. Red tank tops with rainbow-colored Mickey Mouse heads began arriving in shops along Main Street USA a few days ago. They were paired in store displays with other rainbow items usually found in the parks year-round, such as rainbow pins and antenna toppers. A rainbow mug can be had for $12.95; a rainbow wallet for $14.95. Mickey Mouse Vinylmations in rainbow — $12.95 apiece — were also prominently displayed. "We offer a wide range of merchandise items that appeal to guests of diverse backgrounds," said Walt Disney World spokeswoman Bernadette Davis.

Haters are pouring into the comments at the above link, of course. Gay Days are this weekend.

Florida Hate Group Calls On Disney To Discriminate Against LGBT Patrons

"The State of Florida does NOT prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Disney has clearly played a role in helping to sponsor this event for years and allows activities they could otherwise prevent. Disney has the right to prohibit people from entering the park with tee shirts that promote LGBT behavior but deliberately chooses to allow this to occur in the midst of thousands of children. So why doesn’t Disney and Gay Day organizers want their own special Gay Day party in the Magic Kingdom after the park closes when regular guests won’t be offended and Gay Day patrons can party hardy? The answer is they both want to impact a captured audience of tens of thousands of children." - David Caton, head of the Florida Family Association, which in previous years has flown anti-gay "warning" banners above Walt Disney World, whose president is an openly gay man.

OMM Against Disney Gay Days

"Dear Joe, Homosexuals will be celebrating the 23rd anniversary of Gay Day wearing matching Gay Day merchandise, such as T-shirts. There will also be transvestites dressed in drag showing their support for the event. This event is planned with the intent to expose and desensitize children to this lifestyle by same-sex couples holding hands, hugging and kissing. In short, a Gay Day participant's main goal is to be seen versus seeing Disney World. In past years when we have contacted Disney representatives about this same issue, their response was simply that they do not sponsor this event.

"On June 1, unsuspecting families will witness a well-orchestrated event that Disney says they have no control over. Disney has taken no action to stop this, which leaves families stunned and offended. So instead of a normal day at this popular theme park, parents will be angry at the harm this causes families. Disney has been irresponsible for far too long. Disney should monitor this day and event for public displays of affection and require proper conduct and appropriate attire." - One Million Moms head Monica Cole, calling on straight people to boycott Disney that day.

RELATED: That's me on the right (with my eyes closed, darn it) at the third Gay Day in 1993. Our red Dade County Fire Department t-shirts were supplied by a Miami fireman in our group. I'm wearing my prized 1993 March On Washington pin. That "warning" sign outside the main gates got a lot more pleasant in the following years. Somewhere I have a photo of a later version that said, "While today's gay-lesbian event is not sponsored by Walt Disney World, all are welcome to enjoy the park." Do they still bother with a sign at all?

FL Hate Group: We're Killing Gay Days

"The extraordinary thing was 'Gay Day' patron attendance was down almost 60 percent. It was astonishing to see the remarkably decreased number of red shirts, which had all kinds of statements on [them] proclaiming homosexuality. We may not be able to influence Disney to change their policy, but we can trust in [OneNewsNow] to warn people about events like this so that we can avoid them and avoid offending our families. And as a consequence, we undo what they intend to do, which is to celebrate their lifestyle in front of a captive audience, including children." - Florida Family Association douchebigot David Caton, who ignores the Orlando Sentinel story noting this year's strong Gay Days attendance.

How To Stop Gay Day At Disney!

"Dozens of gang members visiting Disneyland in California have been evicted after entering the park wearing gang colors according to Kenneth Green, Director of Corporate Communications. He said the company was concerned the groups might intimidate or invoke fear in the hearts of regular patrons. So, Disney can see where a dozen people wearing gang colors might be offensive to regular families but not thousands of same-sex revelers wearing shirts that flaunt and promote homosexual, lesbian and transgender behavior." - Florida Family Association douchenozzle David Caton, on how to stop all them red-shirted homos. (Via Right Wing Watch)

Gay Day Attendees Are After Children

"There will be perhaps as many as 18,000 same-sex revelers in the Magic Kingdom pretty much all day long. The event is pretty much a celebration of their lifestyle, and they target Disney on the first Saturday of summer because that's when they've known in the past that the most children are in the park." - Florida Family Association head David Caton, issuing his "final warning" about this weekend's Gay Day at Disney World.

Non-A-Holes Vs Hate

Last week I reported that the Florida Family Association plans to fly a banner plane over Disney World to warn attendees about this year's Gay Day. Somebody has a plan to counter that message.

We're average Americans against hatred, or, as we like to call ourselves, the Non-A-Holes. Let's fly a banner above Orlando that reads "WARNING: Homophobes Loose in Orlando. Hide Your Kids." We need about $1,200 to run the banner for two hours above Orlando. Please join us, the Non A-Holes by clicking the donate link on this page and letting the Florida Family Association know that haters can be haters, but, to quote The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, "Love is never wrong, and so it never dies."

It looks like they've reached their donation goal, but here's the link in case they plan to fly the message more than once.

AFA's Poll Of The Day

Results.

ORLANDO: Christianist Hate Group Flies Anti-Gay "Warning" Over Disney World

Gay Days is in full swing in Orlando and the Florida Family Association is letting everybody know about it.

A Christian group is protesting the annual "Gay Day" by flying a banner plane over Disney World with a warning message for visitors. The six day celebration for gay pride is a 20 year celebration, held in Orlando, FL, with Saturday spent at the Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom. "It's just about people being proud of who they are here," said Gay day participant, Floyd Benefield. With the 160,000 people visiting central Florida to celebrate, Florida Family Association is boycotting and spending $7,000 to fly banners for two full days near Disney, warning unsuspected families of the festivities.

Iowa Goes Gay (Disney)

Representatives from three Iowa visitors bureaus set up a booth at Gay Days at Disneyland Resort this weekend, encouraging gays to come live and marry in their state.

At the booth set up inside Disney’s Grand Californian hotel, gay and lesbian couples sampled wedding cake and posed for photos inside a frame that read, “Just Married … In Iowa City!” The Iowa representatives took the free photos and supplied the tuxedo jackets and bridal veils. They also handed out brochures touting Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Coralville, among other cities. “We want people to know that if the California Legislature is unwilling to take the step to give gay couples the right to marry, then please consider coming to Iowa where we will gladly welcome you with open arms,” said Joe Jennison, executive director of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance. Jennison, who is gay, is originally from Iowa and lived in California – including Orange County – for 13 years before moving back to his home state in 2003. “Even I thought I might be greeted as a gay man by bigots and closed-minded people,” he said. “But it turned out nothing could have been further from the truth. Iowa is a very progressive state.”

Reader comments on the above-linked Orange County Register story are what you might expect.

Hannah Montana Sends Queers Packing

Disneyland has announced they will close early on the last day of Gay Days this weekend in order to boot out the queers for the 16th birthday party of Miley Cyrus. Disney will redirect mouse-happy homos over to California Adventure.

In what is presumably an oversight on someone’s part, the “Hannah Montana” star’s Sweet 16 celebration with 5,000 of her closest fans this Sunday (October 5, though her actual birthday’s in November) happens to coincide with the last day of the park’s annual unofficial Gay Days, which draws 30,000 gay and lesbian visitors to the Happiest Place on Earth every fall.

When word broke about the double booking a few days ago, early reports erroneously had Disney folks dissing the Gay Days revelers and shutting them out of the park. But a Disneyland rep told “Access Hollywood” on Tuesday that in order to accommodate both groups, the park will be closing at 5 p.m. to guests not attending the Cyrus party. To make up for it, Disney will accommodate Gay Days guests after 5 p.m. at its sister park, Disney’s California Adventure, which will extend its hours to 11 p.m.

Gay Days isn't too bent out of shape and has invited Cyrus to come sing for the boys at the other park.