From WFTV.Com:
Judge Rejects Challenge To Disney's No-Fly Zone
POSTED: 3:18 p.m. EDT June 5, 2003
UPDATED: 3:27 p.m. EDT June 5, 2003
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A federal judge rejected Thursday a conservative Christian group's attempt to remove the no-fly zone over Walt Disney World so planes could trail banners touting an anti-homosexuality Web site over the theme park during Gay Days festivities.
U.S. District Judge Anne Conway said the Virginia-based Family Policy Network did not meet the burden of proof necessary to provide a temporary rollback of the Federal Aviation Administration restrictions. The rules were adopted to prevent possible terrorist attacks.
Family Policy Network sued the federal government Wednesday, alleging the no-fly zone violates its free speech rights. The group wanted to fly planes pulling banners reading: "JESUS CHRIST: HOPE FOR HOMOSEXUALS.COM" over the park.
FAA restrictions say that planes must remain at least 3,000 feet above the park or stay at least three nautical miles away. A no-fly zone also covers Disneyland and the company's neighboring California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif.
The 13th annual Gay Days celebration, which started Thursday and lasts four days, is expected to draw more than 100,000 gay and lesbian tourists. While Disney doesn't sponsor Gay Days -- it has several outside organizers -- the Magic Kingdom theme park is the hub of the activities.
Conway said she did not believe that she had jurisdiction over the FAA's policies.
Disney has repeatedly said the "safety and enjoyment" of its guests were the reasons the company wanted the no-fly zones, and wants them maintained.
The suit lists the FAA, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Transportation Security Administration as defendants.
The FAA has refused to comment, aside from saying the no-fly regulations were part of an appropriations package approved by Congress in February and any attempt to repeal them would have to be addressed through legislation.
Ironically, Gay Days organizers supported the actions of the Family Policy Network.
"I don't believe the no-fly zone should be there," Chris Alexander-Manley, director of marketing for Gay Days Inc., told the Orlando Sentinel. "There was one group that was planning to fly a banner welcoming everybody."
Banners that participants at Gay Days would have sent aloft included "gaydays.com" and "The Girls at Gay Days," organizers said.
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Remember - this topic gets very touchy. In the words of Melvin, "If ya can't say something nice, er uh..."
Okay, fine. In the words of Thumper, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." (Okay, so I don't have it 100%. I say they re-release Bambi anyway...
)
Judge Rejects Challenge To Disney's No-Fly Zone
POSTED: 3:18 p.m. EDT June 5, 2003
UPDATED: 3:27 p.m. EDT June 5, 2003
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A federal judge rejected Thursday a conservative Christian group's attempt to remove the no-fly zone over Walt Disney World so planes could trail banners touting an anti-homosexuality Web site over the theme park during Gay Days festivities.
U.S. District Judge Anne Conway said the Virginia-based Family Policy Network did not meet the burden of proof necessary to provide a temporary rollback of the Federal Aviation Administration restrictions. The rules were adopted to prevent possible terrorist attacks.
Family Policy Network sued the federal government Wednesday, alleging the no-fly zone violates its free speech rights. The group wanted to fly planes pulling banners reading: "JESUS CHRIST: HOPE FOR HOMOSEXUALS.COM" over the park.
FAA restrictions say that planes must remain at least 3,000 feet above the park or stay at least three nautical miles away. A no-fly zone also covers Disneyland and the company's neighboring California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif.
The 13th annual Gay Days celebration, which started Thursday and lasts four days, is expected to draw more than 100,000 gay and lesbian tourists. While Disney doesn't sponsor Gay Days -- it has several outside organizers -- the Magic Kingdom theme park is the hub of the activities.
Conway said she did not believe that she had jurisdiction over the FAA's policies.
Disney has repeatedly said the "safety and enjoyment" of its guests were the reasons the company wanted the no-fly zones, and wants them maintained.
The suit lists the FAA, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Transportation Security Administration as defendants.
The FAA has refused to comment, aside from saying the no-fly regulations were part of an appropriations package approved by Congress in February and any attempt to repeal them would have to be addressed through legislation.
Ironically, Gay Days organizers supported the actions of the Family Policy Network.
"I don't believe the no-fly zone should be there," Chris Alexander-Manley, director of marketing for Gay Days Inc., told the Orlando Sentinel. "There was one group that was planning to fly a banner welcoming everybody."
Banners that participants at Gay Days would have sent aloft included "gaydays.com" and "The Girls at Gay Days," organizers said.
---
Remember - this topic gets very touchy. In the words of Melvin, "If ya can't say something nice, er uh..."
Okay, fine. In the words of Thumper, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." (Okay, so I don't have it 100%. I say they re-release Bambi anyway...
)
