Walt Disney World's unofficial "Gay Day" tradition is coming under fire yet again from a rightwing Florida-based group.
The Florida Family Association (FFA), which has previously claimed that gays and lesbians lead "immoral lifestyles," claims to have raised $4,100 to hire an aircraft company to fly a banner warning families about the June 2 event at the Orlando resort. At present, the banner can be flown for 10 hours, although organizers are aiming to have it flown for 20, which will cost $8,400.
The group writes:
"How would you feel if you entered the Magic Kingdom anticipating a normal day of fun with your family only to witness thousands of same-sex couples holding hands, hugging, kissing and wearing tee-shirts that promoted their lifestyle?"
One Gay Day patron’s comments best describes their goal 'We need to be seen in the heart of America's playground.' It appears from the behavior of Gay Day patrons that they were more intent on being seen rather than seeing Disney World.
Just like activists’ attempts to gain access to youthful minds through LGBT characters in video games they also want to impact a captured audience of tens of thousands of children during the first Saturday of Summer Break."
The group claims the banner is "the most cost effective manner" to warn families before they "expose their children to same-sex revelry" and "commit a day for fun now ruined" by entering the theme park during the unofficial event.
The tactic is nothing new; as Towleroad reported, FFA officials claim to have spent $7,000 to fly banners that read "Warning Gay Day at Disney 6/4" over Orlando for two full days.
Organizers of Gay Days at Disney World have deemed their event, which was first held in 1991, as "the world's most popular gay and lesbian celebration," and report that it draws "over 150,000 gay and lesbian travelers" to Orlando each year.
The Walt Disney Company has never officially sanctioned the event, and has requested employees to treat it just like any other day, according to Time magazine.
Take a look at other anti-gay statements made by right-wing pundits below:
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