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+

[Disstevefan1]

Collecting money for a charitable cause and not following through in giving that money to the cause is very illegal. Doubt Disney would want to expose themselves to the legal and political and social repercussions if they didn't follow thru.

Very illegal. You made me LOL.

 

[mdcpr]

With DD13, around here at least, kids her age take wearing rainbow as either identifying as or "safe person to discuss LBGTQ+ without hate or fear". She is also aware of who specifically avoids wearing rainbow so as not to be outed. I know some kids also wear specific color friend bracelets to be more discreet.

Good point. Also, my teen and her friends are against wearing rainbow to be trendy, but intentional for the right reasons.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Please express your sometimes differing opinions politely, respectfully, and without delving into politics and insults. Thank you.

I'm not trying to start anything here, but acknowledging the "other side" as a difference of opinion is already validating that other side. By conceding that LGBTQ+ rights are a matter of opinion, you've already lost in defense of those rights.

This is a common and effective debate tactic and a harder stance in support of those rights should be established. I know you're trying to play peacekeeper here as a moderator, but I for one would be 100% in support of the immediate deletion of any post for any dissenting argument against LGBTQ+ rights, representation or anything else on these forums.

I don't know what was said, as I'm sure you promptly deleted it (as you should), but referring to such posts as "differing opinions" diminishes what's actually going on here.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Without delving into politics too much, seeing the company dial up its Pride campaign in the face of the current legal battles is fantastic. Do we want Disney to be 100% inclusive or just inclusive on paper?

I celebrate this. If for no other reason, growth of Pride month worldwide only serves to normalize queer status while making it increasingly clear that those who disagree with inclusivity are in the minority and can no longer be allowed to dictate policy. Movements take a very long time but progress is progress. At a minimum, I am happy to support companies that proudly state they reject discrimination. Chapek being willing to change course in this area is one of the few areas where I compliment him. Change may not be easy but necessary change is necessary.

 

[FullSailDan]

As a gay man I hate the new rainbows and flags. The original Rainbow flag literally covered everything, now it's a catch all for whatever is the biggest virtue signal of the year.

As another gay man, I wholeheartedly agree. The idea of the rainbow was that it represented the full spectrum of humanity and created a cohesive whole of all of us. When Baker originally designed it, it had pink in it to represent sex. That stripe was removed due to a shortage of pink fabric when production ramped up, but Baker has repeatedly pushed to get it included back in. I really wish we'd have done that. The current iterations of the progress flag, social justice flag, and "new pride flag" destroy that unity idea. The dichotomy of the shapes provide a message of tension and individualism which really seems counter to the pride movement. I really struggle with it, because I love the progress it represents, but hate the tone-deaf messaging.

On the topic of Disney and the wall....We've come a long way since companies were afraid to be associated with something 'gay'. Disney has made some missteps in their support over the years and actions like this are a good gesture towards showing they mean to stand by their support. It's very public and photos of the wall will generate a lot of discussion around the company and LGBTQ rights, both good and bad. It would have been all too easy for them to not do this and avoid additional news or press all together.

 

[draybook]

I'm not a gay man but I did stay at a Howard Johnson Inn in the late 80's. But seriously, I don't get all of the hubbub over this type of stuff. I've expressed my opinion on this topic before but why can't people just let other people be themselves? If someone wants to wear pride stuff and feel good about it, let em. Be you and be happy.

 

[LittleBuford]

As a 28 year old gay man that was once a teen, I would have loved to see the commercialism of “all things rainbow” growing up. I hope queer youth understand that we have not had this level of inclusion and acceptance for that long, and we still have a long way to go.

A bit off-topic, but related to the “I wish this had existed when I was a teen” sentiment: if you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and watch Heartstopper on Netflix.

 

[michmousefan]

A bit off-topic, but related to the “I wish this had existed when I was a teen” sentiment: if you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and watch Heartstopper on Netflix.

Indeed. It's a wonderful show.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

As another gay man, I wholeheartedly agree. The idea of the rainbow was that it represented the full spectrum of humanity and created a cohesive whole of all of us. When Baker originally designed it, it had pink in it to represent sex. That stripe was removed due to a shortage of pink fabric when production ramped up, but Baker has repeatedly pushed to get it included back in. I really wish we'd have done that. The current iterations of the progress flag, social justice flag, and "new pride flag" destroy that unity idea. The dichotomy of the shapes provide a message of tension and individualism which really seems counter to the pride movement. I really struggle with it, because I love the progress it represents, but hate the tone-deaf messaging.

On the topic of Disney and the wall....We've come a long way since companies were afraid to be associated with something 'gay'. Disney has made some missteps in their support over the years and actions like this are a good gesture towards showing they mean to stand by their support. It's very public and photos of the wall will generate a lot of discussion around the company and LGBTQ rights, both good and bad. It would have been all too easy for them to not do this and avoid additional news or press all together.

Amen I agree.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Okay so... as another gay man....


None of our takes are "the take", as we all have different opinions on the flags, and commercialism, and what representation means to us.

Point being:

• If you dig the representation as done through commercialism, right on!
• If you don't, valid.
• If you love the new Pride Flag that is more inclusive (like I do), right on.
• if you don't... okay that's your opinion, go buy the other flag and use that one... a newer flag existing takes nothing away from us.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Okay so... as another gay man....


None of our takes are "the take", as we all have different opinions on the flags, and commercialism, and what representation means to us.

Point being:

• If you dig the representation as done through commercialism, right on!
• If you don't, valid.
• If you love the new Pride Flag that is more inclusive (like I do), right on.
• if you don't... okay that's your opinion, go buy the other flag and use that one... a newer flag existing takes nothing away from us.

I like that we all have to give the preamble that we’re gay to have these discussions lol! I agree thought all points are valid.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I like that we all have to give the preamble that we’re gay to have these discussions lol! I agree thought all points are valid.

Totally, I had to continue the trend haha.

But yes! I just don't believe in absolutes. We can all have feelings on things, without taking away from those who feel a different way.

But I also don't think we should take away how important the Progress Pride Flag is to many in the community.

The Progress Pride flag · V&A

Based on the iconic rainbow flag from 1978, Daniel Quasar's redesign celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ community and calls for a more inclusive society.

www.vam.ac.uk

 

[Nubs70]

As the mom of very wise LGBTQ+ teen I'm so proud of her when she told me she doesn't like the commercialism of 'all things rainbow' and the oversharing/overdoing it during Pride Month, because she's queer and she is who she is.

After acceptance comes commercialization. Same thing will happen to Juneteenth.

 

[Disney Analyst]

After acceptance comes commercialization. Same thing will happen to Juneteenth.

I also believe commercialization helps with acceptance.

 

[Lilofan]

I'm not a gay man but I did stay at a Howard Johnson Inn in the late 80's. But seriously, I don't get all of the hubbub over this type of stuff. I've expressed my opinion on this topic before but why can't people just let other people be themselves? If someone wants to wear pride stuff and feel good about it, let em. Be you and be happy.

I can still recall the all u can eat fried clam plate strip specials at Howard Johnson's cafe in 1982 in PA where our family ate and saw the Washington Redskins and Joe Theismann in summer training pre season. Back in the day attending summer practices and scrimmage games were free to the public.

 

[trainplane3]

Without delving into politics too much, seeing the company dial up its Pride campaign in the face of the current legal battles is fantastic. Do we want Disney to be 100% inclusive or just inclusive on paper?

I celebrate this. If for no other reason, growth of Pride month worldwide only serves to normalize queer status while making it increasingly clear that those who disagree with inclusivity are in the minority and can no longer be allowed to dictate policy. Movements take a very long time but progress is progress. At a minimum, I am happy to support companies that proudly state they reject discrimination. Chapek being willing to change course in this area is one of the few areas where I compliment him. Change may not be easy but necessary change is necessary.

I'm just glad they're donating all profits from the merch instead of the 10%(?) it was for years. That actually seems meaningful. Seems meaningful. That's the one good PR move WDW's done in a long while.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I’ve been pretty vociferous in my preference for Uni over WDW over the last decade, but I am very disappointed in Universal’s failure to step up on this issue as Disney has. It’s one of the few things in a long time that has made me more positively inclined towards WDW.

 

[Indy_UK]

Very illegal. You made me LOL.

Its like a 'Mega pint' LOL

 

[waltography]

Apologies if this has already been shared/if there's a more appropriate place to post this, but foodie guide was also released for Pride Month and honestly some of it looks great (looking at you, Pride Cocktail and Lunchbox Tart): https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ide-to-celebrate-pride-month-at-disney-parks/

I’ve been pretty vociferous in my preference for Uni over WDW over the last decade, but I am very disappointed in Universal’s failure to step up on this issue as Disney has.

This point specifically is what's left a bad taste in my mouth over Universal's "Love is Universal" merch and 10% of proceeds to the National Pulse Memorial; at least Disney's calling a spade a spade with its Pride merch instead of hiding behind rainbows and Gay Days.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

This point specifically is what's left a bad taste in my mouth over Universal's "Love is Universal" merch and 10% of proceeds to the National Pulse Memorial; at least Disney's calling a spade a spade with its Pride merch instead of hiding behind rainbows and Gay Days.

Maybe I'm wrong here, but I have had the distinct impression that Universal is happy to quietly take advantage of some of Disney's political issues in Florida over this and other issues going back to the pandemic to build its share of the local theme park going market. Maybe I'm wrong, but management seems a lot more conscious of not getting out too far ahead of local sensibilities to kind of wink at the local market that they can come over to Uni if they don't like Disney's politics.