News Disney transforms Magic Kingdom's famous purple wall to celebrate PRIDE Month at Walt Disney World and will donate merch profits to support LGBTQIA+

[LittleBuford]

I don't dispute that, actually. If Disney were to have a same-sex couple as the stars of a new movie (which I suspect is in the pipeline), and it's successful, I also wouldn't really have a problem with them being in a parade.

The reason why I wouldn't have a problem with that is because it isn't an overt embrace of a political/social cause, like pride month murals are, in my opinion.

Again, I think it's telling that most of the posters here who've outed themselves as members of the community welcome this as an inclusive, celebratory gesture rather than as an overtly political one. You're reading it as some sort of battle cry; I'm reading it as a warm hug that amplifies, rather than undermines, the magic I associate with Disney.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

What an oxymoron… You cannot be a follower of Christ AND be gay. It goes against what the Word says. It even goes as far to call it an abomination. God went as far as to destroy two cities because of it. You say though, He’s ok with it? WOW.

So can you be divorced and a Christian? Can you be adulterous and a Christian?

 

[Brian]

Again, I think it's telling that most of the posters here who've outed themselves as members of the community welcome this as an inclusive, celebratory gesture rather than as an overtly political one. You're reading it as some sort of battle cry; I'm reading it as a warm hug that amplifies, rather than undermines, the magic I associate with Disney.

I sincerely mean it when I say that I am glad that you consider it a positive.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Having worked for the company for several decades in various capacities, I don't need a history less on it's ideology, history, or operations. Thank you.

Brave men and women fought and died for that flag. It also happens to be the flag of the territory where they fly, and in the cases of the international Main Street U.S.As, the flag of the territory they claim to transport you to.

The difference is that one side of the ideological spectrum, and as a result, overwhelming swaths of American institutions, have taken up LGBT pride as one of their causes. That's what makes it political.

As a result, it has no place in a Disney park.

Correct. If 1A protections extended to individual to individual speech, it would be chaos. That's not my point. My point is that if you see someone who has a viewpoint which you disagree strongly, you should present facts and arguments to challenge their perception, not call for their censorship.

In other words, the answer to "bad" speech isn't less speech; it's more speech.

It doesn’t matter where you worked, your understanding of the history and ideology of Disney is simply incorrect. To choose one prominent example, during the 40s Disney essentially served as an appendage of the US State Department, producing what amounted to propaganda films, albeit for an incredibly virtuous cause - one of these films is the basis of a current WDW ride! More relevantly, in his later years Disney and his company’s media became one of the primary shapers and proponents of an ideological vision that celebrated a corporate-technology-based, America-centered Utopianism. This vision, of course was most fully articulated at EPCOT.

Your definition of what is and isn’t political is completely arbitrary. Things can be political even if you support them, or even if a massive majority of people support them. I revere the US flag. It is tremendously political. I think I’ve made my views on classic EPCOT very clear on these boards. It was massively political.

You seem to be conflating “political” with “controversial.” The group making the pride flag controversial is not the “side of the ideological spectrum” championing the civil rights of the LGBTQ community - given the foundational principles of this country, that should be the default position. It’s certainly not being made controversial by LGBTQ individuals trying to live thier lives. It’s controversial because a significant group of very influential people are seeking power through Culture War, and the LGBTQ community is a convenient target for demonization and persecution.

 

[DisneyCane]

I don't dispute that, actually. If Disney were to have a same-sex couple as the stars of a new movie (which I suspect is in the pipeline), and it's successful, I also wouldn't really have a problem with them being in a parade.

The reason why I wouldn't have a problem with that is because it isn't an overt embrace of a political/social cause, like pride month murals are, in my opinion.

With Disney's reliance on China for both revenue and financing, I'd be surprised if there is a movie with same sex main characters anytime soon. Maybe they'll throw something together for Disney+.

 

[Brian]

It doesn’t matter where you worked, your understanding of the history and ideology of Disney is simply incorrect. To choose one prominent example, during the 40s Disney essentially served as an appendage of the US State Department, producing what amounted to propaganda films, albeit for an incredibly virtuous cause - one of these films is the basis of a current WDW ride! More relevantly, in his later years Disney and his company’s media became one of the primary shapers and proponents of an ideological vision that celebrated a corporate-technology-based, America-centered Utopianism. This vision, of course was most fully articulated at EPCOT.

Your definition of what is and isn’t political is completely arbitrary. Things can be political even if you support them, or even if a massive majority of people support them. I revere the US flag. It is tremendously political. I think I’ve made my views on classic EPCOT very clear on these boards. It was massively political.

You seem to be conflating “political” with “controversial.” The group making the pride flag controversial is not the “side of the ideological spectrum” championing the civil rights of the LGBTQ community - given the foundational principles of this country, that should be the default position. It’s certainly not being made controversial by LGBTQ individuals trying to live thier lives. It’s controversial because a significant group of very influential people are seeking power through Culture War, and the LGBTQ community is a convenient target for demonization and persecution.

Let me ask you these two questions, then: where do you personally draw the line?

Also, if any one person or group feels that their rights are under attack, do they get to have representation at the Disney parks?

 

[denyuntilcaught]

All this conversation around a mural on a wall. Let people live and feel represented.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Let me ask you these two questions, then: where do you personally draw the line?

Also, if any one person or group feels that their rights are under attack, do they get to have representation at the Disney parks?

I don’t draw the line, really, because the only point of an entirely arbitrary distinction between the political and the non-political is… politics.

And the LGBTQ community doesn’t “feel” their rights are under attack. Their rights are, objectively, under attack. The fact that, after the events of the last few months ( which I know you’re aware of, because you’ve been prominent in the related threads) you are still claiming this isn’t true is surprising.

And by the way, a group doesn’t have to be under attack to merit celebration in a Disney park. I don’t believe you’ve addressed St Patrick’s Day or, more importantly, DCAs huge Chinese New Year Celebration.

 

[wdwmagic]

wow. just had to delete 82 posts. Apologies to the well written posts that were caught in the crossfire.

Simple suggestion. If you are Homophobic this is not the thread, and probably not the forum, for you.

 

[Brian]

I don’t draw the line, really, because the only point of an entirely arbitrary distinction between the political and the non-political is… politics.
And the LGBTQ community doesn’t “feel” their rights are under attack. Their rights are, objectively, under attack. The fact that, after the events of the last few months ( which I know you’re aware of, because you’ve been prominent in the related threads) you are still claiming this isn’t true is surprising.

The rights of gun owners are under attack. Do they get a mural in Liberty Square?
The rights (and lives) of the unborn are under attack. Do they get a mural in EPCOT?
The rights of female athletes are under attack. Do they get a mural at Wide World of Sports?

By your logic, yes. Because your position is that there is no line.

 

[DryerLintFan]

We’ve been to Disney six times now and couldn’t find the stupid purple wall even when we’ve looked for it. I bet this mural would help!

This thread is a mess.

 

[Californian Elitist]

So if you are a part of the LBGTQ+ community, why express such negative views toward your own community and a rainbow pride mural?

Not sure what the poster’s sexual orientation is, but this type of behavior happens. Ever seen Django Unchained? The character Stephen is a perfect example.

For a real life example, take a look at some of the rhetoric that has come from Milo Yiannopoulos. Big yikes.

 

[uncle jimmy]

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

So if you are a part of the LBGTQ+ community, why express such negative views toward your own community and a rainbow pride mural?

Is the rainbow pride mural political or not... that’s the question. Just like the statement “Black Lives Matter” some people see it as political, others do not.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Again, I think it's telling that most of the posters here who've outed themselves as members of the community welcome this as an inclusive, celebratory gesture rather than as an overtly political one. You're reading it as some sort of battle cry; I'm reading it as a warm hug that amplifies, rather than undermines, the magic I associate with Disney.

I may not be part of your community, but it makes me extraordinarily happy to see Pride month celebrated the way it should be!

ETA: I wish my cousin could have seen it - he came out in the late 60s.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Is the rainbow pride mural political or not... that’s the question. Just like the statement “Black Lives Matter” some people see it as political, others do not.

It isn’t political. It’s supportive and raises awareness just like Black History Month.

It’s in June to commemorate the events at the Stonewall Inn in NYC in June.

 

[Stupido]

For those using "Disney's Support of China" to justify critiquing this display, I just want to point out that over the past two years the majority of Disney's biggest money makers (Marvel Movies) didn't play in China (and many other global markets) because Disney refused to cut scenes depicting same sex relationships. Supporting China's current regime was absolutely a valid critique of Disney's support of the LGBTQIA2S+ Community, however Disney has walked back on their support of China and other discriminatory markets. Disney is once again putting their money where their mouth is and is leaving money on the table to fully commit to being the Ally they've promised themselves to be. I'd wager that much more representation is on its way in Disney Media.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I just want to point out that over the past two years the majority of Disney's biggest money makers (Marvel Movies) didn't play in China (and many other global markets) because Disney refused to cut scenes depicting same sex relationships.

Thanks for pointing this out, I wasn’t aware of this and it’s quite impressive in my opinion.

From a business point of view, that’s hard to justify for a for-profit publically traded company.

 

[Brian]

For those using "Disney's Support of China" to justify critiquing this display, I just want to point out that over the past two years the majority of Disney's biggest money makers (Marvel Movies) didn't play in China (and many other global markets) because Disney refused to cut scenes depicting same sex relationships. Supporting China's current regime was absolutely a valid critique of Disney's support of the LGBTQIA2S+ Community, however Disney has walked back on their support of China and other discriminatory markets. Disney is once again putting their money where their mouth is and is leaving money on the table to fully commit to being the Ally they've promised themselves to be. I'd wager that much more representation is on its way in Disney Media.

I'd say they're putting nickels where their mouth is, where they should be putting full dollars. In other words, they're doing a few good things, but not nearly enough. The CCP is despotic regime, and the rights and lives of LGBT and other groups we concern ourselves with in America are under legitimate threat. If Disney were to fully put their money where their mouth is, they would pull out of China completely. Instead, they film a movie in the place where some of these atrocities are taking place.

Yes, pulling out would mean untold financial losses. But if they truly believe that they are on the right side of history, I hope that they would use their considerable cultural and financial clout to send an unprecedented message to the world.

 

[BuddyThomas]

wow. just had to delete 82 posts. Apologies to the well written posts that were caught in the crossfire.

Simple suggestion. If you are Homophobic this is not the thread, and probably not the forum, for you.

Sorry there was another big clean-up job. I need to learn not to take the bait when certain things get posted. In any case, you might want to revisit post #186 where we were basically informed that gays cannot be Christians. That post is still lingering around like a pesky ghost.