News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media

Disney does the right thing on same-sex marriage

Last month I wrote an article about how Disney was keeping same-sex couples from celebrating their commitment ceremonies on their California and Florida properties--and consequently Reuters is now reporting that Disney will start allowing same-couples to participate in their Fairy Tale Wedding program. (Reuters even specifically cites our article.)

Said Disney Parks and Resorts spokesman Donn Walker, "We are updating our Fairy Tale Wedding guidelines to include commitment ceremonies. This is consistent with our policy of creating a welcoming, respectful and inclusive environment for all of our guests."

 


When I first contacted Disney about this situation, they basically argued that since neither Florida nor California recognize same-sex marriage, Disney's hands were tied and they couldn't offer their services to gay and lesbian couples. This wasn't true, but it was Disney's argument.

The legal situation was slightly different in California where same-sex couples were allowed to celebrate their commitment ceremonies on Disney properties, but not using the same planners as straight couples nor could they use the Rose Court Garden which was strictly reserved for heterosexuals.

So what prompted the change? Walker said it was because of a "an inquiry from a guest that asked about this service." Walker then said he had to go have lunch with Tinker Bell and Goofy.

(Click read more to learn the rest of what happened.)

I love the way they make themselves sound so reasonable, and who knows? Maybe there's some truth to it. But, uh, when I inquired about the very same thing just weeks ago, Disney felt their policy was completely fair as it stood. Said Disney spokesperson Jason DiPietre before the announcement of this new policy, "The Walt Disney World Resort is open to everyone, every day. We extend our welcome to everyone to everyone and treat all of our guests with respect."

I'm not trying to give myself too much credit, but I suspect our article had a fair bit to do with the change. That being said, I congratulate Disney on stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing. In fact, I think everyone should get in touch with Disney to thank them for making this change as I have no doubt at all that the homophobes will be out in droves screaming that Disney's treating gay and lesbian couples somehow discriminates against their religious beliefs.

One of the things I love about my job is the chance to actually affect changes like this one!

Here is how to contact Disney:

Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons at Disneyland Resort: 714 956 6527

Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons at Walt Disney World Resort: 321 939 4610

or via their websites here or here.

 

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  • Anonymous's picture

    Congratulations

    I'm a conservative Christian that just read the article on Foxnews.com about Disney changing their policy on their fairtale wedding packages. I want to congratulate you for your success in getting this policy changed to include gay and lesbian families. While I am a conservative, I believe Disney's previous policy on this matter amounts to nothing less than discrimination. Disney is supposed to be about promoting families no matter the make-up of the family. A fairy tale is up to each person' imagination which should include a fairy tale wedding. Disney has no place in telling anyone if their fairy tale meets their criteria. Congratulations again on your success. I just can't believe that disney participated in such discrimation and had I known this my "traditional" family would have spent far less time at their parks.
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    Anonymous's picture

    Do people read their Bibles anymore???

    First of all I would like to say, please don't call yourself a Christian, you are giving all of us a bad name. I am very dispointed in Disney's decision to promote gay marriage. If you are a Christian then you should understand the Bible isn't all about hugs and kisses, and that God HATES "same sex" couples. And anyone who is involved in this abomination to Jesus, turn now from your sins and repent.
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    Anonymous's picture

    Is my Christianity in question?

    Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I read my bible on a regular basis... and I am gay. Being gay, however, has nothing to do with my Christianity. "Judge not, lest ye be judged (Matthew 7:1)" That's in my bible... is it in yours? Hugs and kisses, you say... My Bible tells me to love... not hate. "Love thy neighbor." "...the greatest of these is love." "Love does no wrong to a neighbor..." if you need the passages for these, I have them. Yes, I read my bible... but most importantly I am a Christian. I am saved by grace. God Loves me... MY BIBLE TELLS ME SO. I used to work for Disney and I am proud that they have taken this step in not allowing discrimination in their practices. A lot more companies could learn from their example.
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    Anonymous's picture

    I just want to say thank you

    I just want to say thank you for standing up for the only unchangeable truth we have . . . "the Word of God"! It is never chaning ... the same yesterday, today and forever. If God said in the Leviticus that homosexuality is an abomination to Him, then it still is. This does not mean that we should not love the person who chose this life-style, but we definitely should hate the sin!! Right is right and wrong is wrong... it is that simple. I pray that anyone who is in the process of or has already made the decision to life a homosexual life would truly repent of this decision and ask Jesus to help them in their thinking and their understanding --- pray for deliverance. I will be praying for them also. ---- signed concerned . . . love in Christ
    Anonymous's picture

    I just want to say thank you

    I just want to say thank you for standing up for the only unchangeable truth we have . . . "the Word of God"! It is never chaning ... the same yesterday, today and forever. If God said in the Leviticus that homosexuality is an abomination to Him, then it still is. This does not mean that we should not love the person who chose this life-style, but we definitely should hate the sin!! Right is right and wrong is wrong... it is that simple. I pray that anyone who is in the process of or has already made the decision to life a homosexual life would truly repent of this decision and ask Jesus to help them in their thinking and their understanding --- pray for deliverance. I will be praying for them also. ---- signed concerned . . . love in Christ
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    Lis's picture

    Do people read their Bibles anymore??

    Thank you so much for your response this conservative christian scares me???  If he/she ?? is example of main stream conservatives we are starting to drift and waffle on an issue that is pretty clear cut in both the OT and NT.  Though I am sure they will shoot the messenger- its easier than examining the issues from a biblical standpoint. 

     

    durometer's picture

    comment on ypur congrads page

    i  would like to sat first what kind fo christian are you,secondly, what kind of how can you have discrimination,on something that is not real,there is no such thing as gay and i am so tired of man made things,but i would like to say that society is trying to push somehting on the world  because of their confusion, wehter they get married at disney world or coney island the marriage is still not real even if they have man made laws  about same sex marriages, Because God didn't make it that way But i know satan is having a ball right now, dont' get me wrong I love everyone  I am a saved Christian and i just pray that all these people get their life and lifestyles together before God comes back to judge the world he will be here berfore we know it.
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    Anonymous's picture

    A Prayer for you

    I am not sure where you were raised but the Bible even though it is written by man does state "treat others as you would want to be treated". No one is asking for more then that. Why don't you consider reading more information and stop trying to preach to others about what is right or wrong after all they are the one who will have to answer to God not you. After all you consider that all the sins you have done before you go throwing stones at someone else's glass house. Respect one another and all will be well in the world. My prayers will be with you on your path.
    Anonymous's picture

    First of all the Bible was

    First of all the Bible was written by men; however, they were under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost! This is not man made and we do not have a right to add to or take away from it. Which is why the scripture says "whoa to anyone who adds to or takes away from the Word of God". You either beilieve it is truth or you don't. You either believe it all or you don't believe it all ... you cannot pick and choose. The Word says to take it "line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little" it is not up for interpretation. Second, being a Christian simply means being Christ like. And if Christ would not stand up for His Word then why would He give it to us as our guide for Salvation... why would He say we would ultimatetly be judged by every word in it? Should we all sit by and just accept everyone for who they decide they should be, or should we attempt to share truth with them in hopes that they would find the narrow path that leads to salvation. I appreciate anyone who is willing to speak truth and life into anyone's life or situation. I would hope that all Christians would take the positiion of their brothers keeper. Where would we be if someone had not taken the time to impart wisdom or truth into our lives? No one is throwing stones at anyone. We are simply measuring decisions and life style choices against the only thing we can ... The Word of God. This is simply called righteous judgement --- not critisism. Please understand the urgency of the times we live in. There is not time to sit around and play games with people and their eternal lives.
    Anonymous's picture

    re: "having lunch with Tinker Bell and Goofy"

    That was entirely tacky, and cliche. That smirks of the tasteless commentary that makes most heterosexual individuals frown on gays. It only lends credence to the motivation of heterosexuals to be more biased against gays. No visit from the butt fairy for you tonight.
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    Anonymous's picture

    phew

    good to know. i'd always wondered the real reason straights frowned on gays. glad to see anonymous remained classy all the way to the end of his post to make his point. nothin' tacky or cliche about butt fairy. oh and whether or not the original article had a direct effect on the policy change at disneyland, afterelton.com has certainly stuck to their mission of bringing visibility to gays and lesbians and their issues and this was a good example of bringing to light a corporations' use of discriminatory policy. kudos, loyal afterellen.com reader
    Anonymous's picture

    this is pathetic

    You obviously need to find something better to do with your time. Disney should not have to do this. Your playin a PR game to suit a personal agenda. Absolutely pathetic.
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    frpeneaud's picture

    Hey, another proof that the

    Hey, another proof that the straight gene is statistically linked to the inhibitor of the humor gene. 

    François
    ---------------
    http://gaycomicslist.free.fr

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    Anonymous's picture

    Don't blame Disney...

    It's a fairy tale WEDDING not a fairy tale commitment.. you can't blame Disney because they didn't allow it, you blame the law. Now they have to make a whole new arrangement for gay people? And how many gay people will spend $8,000 for a commitment ceremony?! This is nothing but a liability for them...
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    Anonymous's picture

    Disgrace

    This is proof that money talks. What's a family? It's destroyed by liberal thinking that rights are more important than wrongs. Anyone that has the ability to read, anyone that has the ability to think can understand that when God said "let man therefore leave his father and mother and let him cleave to his wife." Meant male and female. The first chapter of Romans are in complete disregard. WE will give an account of what we do in this life whether it be good or bad. If I have to be wrong to suffer what you call as right then so be it. But someday I will be right. This is a disgrace to Disney. I'm ashamed that my grandchildren has to be subject to this awlful array of lifestyle. Disney while you may have gained the gay comunity you have lost much, much more.
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    Anonymous's picture

    Congrats!

    Well done! Check out our blog entry - and props to you - on the topic at http://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com. Steve & Miles The Strip Podcast
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    Andros's picture

    Congrats Michael for the big

    Congrats Michael for the big role you played in this! It may only be a small victory but a lot of people will benefit from your direct actions in the years to come.
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    durometer's picture

    same swx marriage

    I would like to say that it is so shame =ful for this website or any other gay organization to want to talk about disney or anyone or anything else that dosn't want to be involved with these type of things,there is no such thing as gay when you look in the dictonary, and look up gay it dosn't say or have a pictur of the same sex it means happy, because if you have a piece of paper you are still not married it ia a sin dosn't exist and isn't real, you are not born gay or it is not genetic, it is a man made up thing, and it is a choice you make or something you are exposed to ,but i will tell you one thing my prayers are with all of you,repent get right with yourself and the Lord, because he is coming back to judge the world, and i know you want to be right with him
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    Anonymous's picture

    So, So Sad...

    It never fails to sadden me when I read such blind hate-filled statements by people who pronounce their Christianity. Predudice, intolerance and hatred was NOT what Jesus was all about. Honestly, He would rather be walking amongst people who LOVE one another without bias than those who speak ill of their fellow man. Jesus loved the lepers. They were marked as outcasts by society. Jesus loves us all and always has. I am Christian. I am gay. I have no doubt in my heart that He loves me and died for me just as He died for you, my friend.
    Anonymous's picture

    disneys gay marriage

    congrats to Disney......they were boycotted by the southern baptists over health benefits to gay couples....didn't seem to hurt disney land and world too much.....ever wonder who designs all the fabulous rides and fantasy places at the disney parks??? bet your ass it's not some uptight straight man....so disney.. keep your policy, and don't knuckle under to hateful bigoted religious wackos...I'm gay, and you would not believe the amount of married baptist men who frequent bookstores and gay bars looking for a little male lovin..... how do you spell hypocrite???

    other funny one by the baptists.........they boycotted anheuser busch......gee I didn't think the baptists were allowed to drink.....the pres of busch breweries laughed at the boycott and said....." I really don't think that's our customer base"""

    Laugh on

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    Anonymous's picture

    Oh for..........

    To the previous poster: Well, *your* lord ain't judging *my* world. And are your sucky opinions made up by you, or were you born with them? The gay people I know *are* happy, except when confronted with ignorance and hatred.
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    Anonymous's picture

    We called about this in 2004...

    My now wife and I called Disney World in 2004 to see if we could get married there. They gave us the same "marriage license" story. Anyway, we ended up getting married in Canada, and it was wonderful!
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    Anonymous's picture

    Disney allowing same sex cermonies

    I believe that everyday people of the same sex are fighting to destroy traditional marriage(stablished in the Bible for God between a man an a woman)because they know that the way they are living is offendingt God,and are trying to force us to accept their stinking way of living.Romans 1:26-32 describes them better. Repent the Lord is coming!
    Anonymous's picture

    Get a life

    These people that want to talk about how the lord is going to come and judge the world need to get a life. Why don't you start worrying about your own life rather than everyone elses. If you "love everyone" then stop being such homophobes. oh and another thing. try spell check every once in a while. Who cares if it's genetic, or you're born gay or whether it's a choice you make. It's still THAT person's choice. So, why don't you go worry about something else because IF the lord does come back, don't you think he's going to judge YOU for being so judgmental not REALLY loving everyone? I'm sure you want to be right with him in that respect. So, go fix your life before you try and fix someone else. Oh yeah, by the way. I'm a straight catholic woman. That should get you all riled up!
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    Lee's picture

    Congratulations, Michael

    After I read your original expose on Disney's "Fairy Tale Wedding" policy, I was outraged.  I was completely unaware that I could spend $40G plus for a wedding for  my daughter at WDW, but if my son wanted to have a ceremony with his partner (legal or not) in the same venue, the same $40G would be useless tender.

    As a stockholder in The WDC, I wrote a letter to investor relations last week about their policy.  I received a reply today stating that Disney was, indeed, changing their policy.

    It does help for all of us to speak up for what is right.

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    michael's picture

    That's great. I'm so

    glad you wrote. I know from experience that corporations get nervous when folks start writing letters.
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    Anonymous's picture

    Congratulations

    Congratulations for making a difference! And congratulations to Disney for being reasonable. (My, you get a few kooks here, don't you...)
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    Anonymous's picture

    hey michael, congrats. my

    hey michael, congrats. my other post hasn't shown up that i wrote last night but hopefully this one will. this was in the paper this morning and there was a mention of afterelton.com. i was stoked! afterelton has stuck to its mission of increasing gay and lesbian visibility. afterellen member who can't sign on here...
    michael's picture

    Thanks!

    I'm not sure why the new comments aren't showing up, but I'm looking into it!
    Anonymous's picture

    Congrats! What great news!!

    I just read about your good work in getting Disney to reverse its policy on same-sex weddings and wanted to say -- CONGRATS!!! I blogged about your success on my website too: http://threeimaginarygirls.com/node/4064 Best wishes! imaginary dana
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    Anonymous's picture

    Traditional Marriage

    I'm so sick of people talking about "traditional marriage" as if it were anything other than what it is...and that is a freaking mess. Half the people I know are divorced, the other are cheating. I say let people who love each other SAVE marriage by trying to improve the average...which has been horrible by the heteros. You don't have to worry about queers "ruining" the sanctimony of "marriage", Heteros have already done a good job at that...and I'm straight.
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    Anonymous's picture

    Bible Quotes

    “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:8-9).” “I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards I will judge them” "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?"
    Anonymous's picture

    Who Cares?

    Its a child's amusement park!!! Just go and have fun... its not like theyre doing it in a church... its a Disney Theme Park
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    Anonymous's picture

    The "No Marriage License" part

    This was rather interesting:

    "So what prompted the change? Walker said it was because of a "an inquiry from a guest that asked about this service." Walker then said he had to go have lunch with Tinker Bell and Goofy."

    I am a Central Florida Wedding Officiant who very recently had a (heterosexual) couple contact me to perform their Commitment Ceremony on a boat in the lake at Disney World. They had some difficulties since they were not getting legally married, but Disney World decided to let them do it.

    I wonder if my couple may have had anything to do with the change? I hope so.

    As for this earlier post:

    Don't blame Disney...

    Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2007-04-06 08:09.

    It's a fairy tale WEDDING not a fairy tale commitment.. you can't blame Disney because they didn't allow it, you blame the law. Now they have to make a whole new arrangement for gay people? And how many gay people will spend $8,000 for a commitment ceremony?! This is nothing but a liability for them...

    My answer to this is simply that, as most of the gay couples I know consist of two people who are well-educated and financially stable, they are much more likely to be able to afford the $8,000 ceremony than many heterosexual couples who tend to get married at a much earlier age.

    sharkgrrrl's picture

    i find it very interesting

    i find it very interesting that a debate regarding marriage and gay people always segues into a religious debate. marriage is a civil and legal contract. it is a way for governments to tally, tax and sometime control their populations. you cannot get married in a church without the legal documents first. you take care of the legal documents and then you are able to celebrate that union in any religious fashion you suscribe to. you CAN take care of all the legal requirements and NEVER step into a church and you are still married. so the issue for most people, the disney issue aside is, that if marriage is a legal union between two consenting adults then a portion of our population is clearly being discriminated against if they are law abiding tax paying citizens that wish to form a legal union.

    even people convicted of heinous crimes (such as murder) are allowed to maintain that legal union upon conviction or even join into one after conviction and during detainment and i don't see them being discriminated against for their "sins." i would think being in a loving relationship is way lesser sin than taking a life.

    of course, one can imagine that "christians" get so upset about marriage because they love it so much they get to do it over and over and over...
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    spazmo's picture

    well said

    Well put, sharkgrrrl.

    The institution of marriage has been the antithesis of personal liberty until only the last few decades.  Prior to the last half of the 20th century, marriage served as an unwritten legal blanket of protection for men who were physically and sexually abusive to their spouses and children, and men who wished to deny property or the basic necessities of life to their spouses and children.   The justice system ignored the desperate pleas of these second-class persons, and swept despicable behavior under the carpet as "a family matter" best resolved by the heads of household (men) and, you guessed it...the advice of the prevailing church authority.

    In the years since, almost every stage in the effort to reform laws to protect women and children was met with resistence and outright hostility by conservatives and religious devotees who insisted these initiatives were "an attack on traditional family values". Sound familiar?

    I wish governments would simply adopt a policy of individual taxation regardless of marital status, thus eliminating the need for state-sanctioned marriage recognition-- period.  Churches may still refuse to marry whomever they wish according to their "conscience", but the authority to invalidate certain relationships would rest no longer in the hands of vote-seeking public servants and small-minded bureaucrats.


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