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.

Disney World Cuts Ties To Boy Scouts

Josh Israel has the story over at Think Progress:

Walt Disney World became the latest business entity to end its support of Boy Scouts of America over its continued refusal to end its ban on openly-LGBT adults. As a result, the Florida theme park will no longer help fund local Scout units in support of employees’ volunteer work. While the Boy Scouts of America’s National Council voted last May to end the group’s long-time ban on openly gay youth, it also reaffirmed its ban on openly LGBT adults serving as volunteers or professionals in the organization. As a result, out Scouts will be kicked out of the organization after their 18th birthday. Walt Disney World’s “Ears to You” grant program functions like an employer matching-gift program, but instead makes donations to charitable organizations for which employees volunteer their time. In the past, this has included Boy Scout troops.

Hit the link for the letter.

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.

Disney Investigates "Handi-Scam"

Disney executives say they are looking into a New York Post report which claims that "wealthy Manhattan moms" are hiring disabled people who pretend to be family members in order to cut into the head of the lines at popular theme park attractions.

The “black-market Disney guides” run $130 an hour, or $1,040 for an eight-hour day. “My daughter waited one minute to get on ‘It’s a Small World’ — the other kids had to wait 2 1/2 hours,” crowed one mom, who hired a disabled guide through Dream Tours Florida. “You can’t go to Disney without a tour concierge,’’ she sniffed. “This is how the 1 percent does Disney.” The woman said she hired a Dream Tours guide to escort her, her husband and their 1-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter through the park in a motorized scooter with a “handicapped” sign on it. The group was sent straight to an auxiliary entrance at the front of each attraction.

Disney allows patrons in wheelchairs to bring up to six people to the head of the line. CNN has more:

"It is unacceptable to abuse accommodations that were designed for guests with disabilities," [Disney] spokesman Bryan Malenius told CNN Wednesday. "We are thoroughly reviewing the situation and will take appropriate steps to deter this type of activity." Reports of the alleged practice sparked fury on social media, with some people calling the actions "crazy," "awful," and "despicable." But others defended the idea, arguing it's a way to help some disabled people make good money.

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.

Walt Disney World Gets Gay President

The gayest place on earth now has an openly gay president. Orlando's Watermark reports:

One of Walt Disney World’s first employees now has 66,000 cast members calling him “boss.” In August 1971, George Kalogridis scored a job bussing tables at The Walt Disney Company’s new theme park, set to open that October. Now, as of Feb. 1, Kalogridis is Walt Disney World’s fifth president, taking over for Meg Crofton, who will fully assume her role as president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France. According to his official Walt Disney World bio, Kalogridis, 59, has been with the company for 41 years. He comes to his new role in Lake Buena Vista from Disneyland Resort, where he has served as president since 2009. Kalogridis’ job titles also include CEO for Disney Resort Paris, vice president of Travel Operations at Walt Disney World in Orlando, and vice president of Epcot.

Kalogridis also has an impressive volunteer resume and has served on the board of directors of Out & Equal.  His partner works for a separate division of the Disney corporation. (Tipped by JMG reader Tom)