Cross-dresser sues Cedar Point

While I don't think any jury would give him $25,000, I don't think the case is about money.

Ahhhh... but Jeremy brings up a very good point. What about the hard-core goth kids? With some of the giant pants and studded collars, I for one would be a hell of a lot more nervous about them than some man in a dress. Yet I see these kids all the time at the park. Is that a costume?

See... there's nothing black and white about it.

My bet... cross-dresser wins, court awards him $100.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

My big question is why did it take CP 11 friggin hours before they asked the guy to leave?? Even if the reason he wasn't asked to change or leave at the gate was because of a screwup with an employee that didn't know the rules, that doesn't explain why he could be in the park for 11 hours wearing a dress before he was approached by security.

Unless, as SFLAKE pointed out, he changed clothes later on.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

I don't think it took 11 hours. The article said "1 1U2 Hrs"

It looks like a formatting problem with the story... my guess it is it should read 1 1/2 hrs (1 and a half hrs).

Also, with my cynical nature... if the case is not about $, I do believe it is about publicity. Look at the timing. This happend a year ago and only now the suit is filed and it hits the news... three days before this years event of the same name? *** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 6/13/2002. ***

I feel like this is discrimination on the parks part. If she was minding her own business, then I don't understand what the problem could have been.

The article said something about the park needs to know everyones identity, well her identity is she's a cross-dressing man, and that's that. Her clothes are not a costume.

For this person, there could have been countless others who have not come forward to talk about it - food for thought!

I'm gay, and me and my b'friend have been harrased at CP from the ride ops! I felt so embarrased for the ride ops - they really proved their intelligence.

I doubt any of us were there, so we don't know all the circumstances. There could be lots of facts that are not available.

Or what about the 12 year olds dressed like prostitutes? Far more disturbing and offensive than some dude in a dress, but sadly that *is* becoming the norm in our society.

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"drop rides, not bombs."

Disney World has an officially sanctioned "GayDay" during the first week of June. During this time, most of the attendees wear "official" red gayday shirts in order to distinguish themselves. Yet there are drag queens allowed into the park. -now weather these guys have some "official" affiliation with the park for this event is unknown to me.

Cedar Point does not sanction this as an official event, and this could be the key to the entire situation. If they wanted to have the Gay day at the park, they might have done themselves a favor by simply letting the offense slide for this one day. My guess(and this is just a guess) is that the park doesnt want to be officially affiliated with Gays and Lesbians, and wanted to make this well known to all of those in attendence.

''You need to be able to identify your guests for security reasons.''

Police would consider this important. If some sort of situation took place where witnesses idendified a woman who quickly changed into a man, the police would get sued for allowing it.

I'm trying to refrain from replying to every single post in the thread, so this will probably be a bit long, too, as I react to some stuff.

First, thanks Jeff. A lot of people tend to immediately gravitate toward one end of a case or another - depending on which is the most self-serving. I'd almost being willing to bet than any 'transgender' activist group within 100 miles of Cleveland will jump on this case.

I got a note back from a friend of mine who seems to think that this individual has a case, but based on a legal technicality, much like what Jeremy's proposed. She also leaves us with the note, "It is Ohio," which, like it or not, isn't the most culturally forward place I've ever seen. Sorry if I offend you Ohioans, as I'm sure you're nice people.

I don't think this case is about money or publicity - and especially not for the event. In fact, though I know it won't happen, I'd encourage the GLBT groups in the area to boycott Cedar Point if they truly feel as if this was an act of discrimination. I am sure they won't, though. The case isn't that important to them.

Instead, I think this individual is caught in a delusion of pride. That is, a lot of folks like us tend to get saddled with the notion that we're less human, or otherwise not given the same freedoms as others who fit into society's pegholes a bit easier. From there, we tend to grow exceedingly proud of whatever we do, and ego takes over. This case is about that ego. It's about having control over your life, warranted or otherwise.

Some have asked what sort of 'fear' the individual might be talking about. Well, to play devil's advocate, and to assume that Cedar Point was discriminatory on the basis of gender-identity (which I tend to not believe, somewhat), I would feel fear were I in this situation. Cedar Point, by ejecting this individual on those grounds, fosters an environment of intolerance and hate, by proxy. I might not feel as if a Cedar Point police officer would drag me out back and beat me, but I might feel as if someone else would get the message that it's okay to do that - and worse, that the Cedar Point police wouldn't protect me.

Finally, as I'm sure other people will note, the 'Gay Days' at Walt Disney Co. theme parks are *not* officially sanctioned events. They, like the gathering at Cedar Point and many, many other parks, are organized without the park's aid. So, on that, I don't think it's fair to assume that Cedar Point wishes to have no affiliation with GLBT people. As a business, it's best that they deal with the individual consumer, and not shoot themselves in the foot by alienating anyone - skeery crossdressing men or Christian fundamentalists alike.

Edit: Odd that the signature only works when I'm at home.
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~~Maddy~~

*** This post was edited by Chernabog on 6/13/2002. ***

I just had a thought... What else was involved here that the story is not telling us? Considering the "unofficial" gathering taking place at CP that day, was this the only cross dressing person there? (and that is not a rhetorical question). If not, was anyone else singled out? I am sure if that were the case, that information would have filtered out before a year had passed. If in fact there were others, and this person was "singled out"... what caused that singling out?

The article gave his point of view... I would like to hear CP or the security guard's points of view. I am sure we would find that the truth behind the situaion lies somewhere in between.

actually, you are right, about disney not sanctioning this event.

sorry for the misinformation

http://www.gayday.com/photos/photo_album.asp?album=18&category=4&item=3270

Take away the wigs in that picture. I have seen guys wearing the same kind of clothing at CP. Mind you, I've not seen one in a dress before, but definitely dressed in hip huggers and tops just like in that picture.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

what if he went to the bathroom...that would change your opinion.

I was just at the park yesterday and saw a man wearing a shirt that said, "Bong hits for jesus" on the front and on the back, "Free the weed" why was this not taken care of?

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Since Jeff made Track Record a "perk" for CB members i'll just post my count here: Coasters:99 Parks:14

Thank you Bill Clinton and all the other liberals out there for bringing these people out of the closet. I do not care what people do. They can do what ever they wish as long as it does not effect me and they do not ask me to accept it. Some people just try to force their lifestyles down everyone throat. Though, their lifestyle may be harmless, I don't want to see it. Cedar Point is in the right. They have signs at the entrance that states that people with offensive clothing will be asked to leave. It's on their web site to.

Most employers have dress codes. Schools have dress codes. Why can't CP have a dress code? You also have to watch what you say at work because you could offend someone, resulting in some sort of disciplinary action.

And where did this person find a lawyer to take this case. What self respecting person would represent this frivolous lawsuit. Oh, I forgot, Cedar Point has a lot of money. Don't get me started on Lawyers again.

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Get to the Point

And thank you Rush Limbaugh for bringing these hateful, narrow-minded pinheads out of the closet with their silly little conspiracy theories that charge all the evils of the world to 'those', 'them' and 'they'.

Somebody hand whatever Higher Power they believe in another big, heavy rock. They don't need to hit John Ball with it--he'll be happy to scurry under it and listen to AM radio.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

John Ball-Congratulations - you are a HOMOPHOBE!

You join the ranks of millions of others who are miseducated, misguided, and keep the problems rolling, rather than trying to help someone (or a fine class of people) out. you sound like a jennyRickiJerry topic to me. I mean really - Who do you think YOU are?

Thanks for helping keeping gay teen suicide rates high - appreciate ya!

And into the fire it goes :)

You knew it was going to happen sooner or later, right? There's still a chance at salvaging this conversation, provided we all don't erupt into mass defense of one particular belief or another, isn't there?

For the record, before this topic gets closed, I've been quite impressed by the tolerance and understanding that fellow buzzers have shown. I'd worried some about being unaccepted because of how I have to live my life and all, and riding alone sucks, but y'all have renewed my faith in people today. Thank you.

~~Maddy~~

John Ball Blessed us with: "Thank you Bill Clinton and all the other liberals out there for bringing these people out of the closet."

Thanks for reminding me, I almost forgot about the "Crossdressing Act of 1998," which brought about transgender behavior. Forget about the 1000's of years of recorded human history that document such behavior, this is all on Clinton. Don't give him that much credit, he doesn't deserve it. No politician does.

And then his true colors came out: "I do not care what people do. They can do what ever they wish as long as it does not effect me and they do not ask me to accept it. Some people just try to force their lifestyles down everyone throat. Though, their lifestyle may be harmless, I don't want to see it."

So...You're tolerant of others, but only when they aren't around you. Have fun getting through life with that outlook.

"Cedar Point is in the right. They have signs at the entrance that states that people with offensive clothing will be asked to leave. It's on their web site to."

That argument doesn't fly. CP let the guy in wearing a dress, and later changed their tune.

"Most employers have dress codes. Schools have dress codes. Why can't CP have a dress code? You also have to watch what you say at work because you could offend someone, resulting in some sort of disciplinary action."

This guy wasn't a CP employee, but yes CP can have a dress code. The issue here is whether this was discriminitory. Was this a routine enforcement of dress code policy, or did his sexuality result in him being asked to leave?

"And where did this person find a lawyer to take this case. What self respecting person would represent this frivolous lawsuit. Oh, I forgot, Cedar Point has a lot of money. Don't get me started on Lawyers again."

Maybe the Yellow Pages.

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"drop rides, not bombs."

1 - 2 - 3 - 4.......10!

Thanks Chernabog for being level headed and trying to maintain a civil-minded discussion.

Rock on!

Chernabog said - "I'd worried some about being unaccepted because of how I have to live my life and all, and riding alone sucks, but y'all have renewed my faith in people today. Thank you."

No doubt. That took some real balls. :)

Best advise I ever got from my Grandmother: "If people don't accept you for who you are, then F@#$ 'em. They're not worth it." I don't know if she took that from someone else or not, but it's always been a good one.
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"drop rides, not bombs." *** This post was edited by chris on 6/13/2002. ***