Gay couple asked to reverse "marriage is so gay" shirt at Dollywood

Yeah I think the issue was how it was handled (kinda like the recent Dorney issue). Telling the woman that it could be offensive or controversial is different from saying it isn't family friendly. Obviously her family had no issue with it.

Except I think "family friendly" has become a term with about zero meaning...good or bad. Was it a lame way to express the concern? Absolutely. But it's just an overused euphemism. I really can't see being upset over that term and not likely also being upset at being told your shirt is offensive. It's kind of splitting hairs in my opinion.

Carrie J. said:
Except I think "family friendly" has become a term with about zero meaning...good or bad. Was it a lame way to express the concern?

Especially when Six Flags claims "my family comes here" then has shirts like 'I'm HUGE in Japan' and other stupid sexual/body part innuendos. (Oh yeah, and pay to cut schemes) ;)

So are you suggesting "Fast Lane is gay" t-shirts? :)

Or maybe "Fast Lane is immoral." Same thing, right?

I'm interested to find out if these folks went to the religious theme park what the PR person would say, I bet they handle it correctly.

Jerry said:
I think we are all in agreement that the PR rep/park screwed up with it's explanation... It's their park, they can do what they want.

As a person of a GLBT background, I find the ad campaign distasteful IMHO, but I'm rather semi old school.

That said, I would like to know what "Dolly" thinks - if it even matters to her?

Also - my lack of enthusiasm on this subject is partly due to the fact, i think the GLBT movement skipped a step in their rights movement - Marriage is nice and all, but to be honest most GLBT folks can be fired for just "Being" gay in many municipalities - I think employment protection should have been done first... just sayin.

I too am curious as to what Dolly Parton herself thinks about this and its been said for YEARS that the woman is very gay friendly.

I totally agree that the GLBT movement did indeed skip the step in their right movement when it comes to mariage meaning that they can still be fired for just being gay..however there is a reason for that. Many folks both gay and straight simply refuses to believe any of it. Kinda like "stories" one reads/hears about employers checking credit and one's Facebook page for those looking for job or being able to get fired for any reason at any time ( employment at will )..people just don't believe that stuff either...even though in most places its legal.

Example...a few months ago on the broadcast website radio-info.com somebody had made a mention about being fired from Clear Channel Radio because he was gay. The incident took place in Virginia where the practice is legal. However the guy who protested, called the post "..totally fu*king billshi*..", calling the poster a "fu*king LIAR" was an employee for FOX TV in Rochester, New York. His actions resulted in the post taken down by the webmaster. Of course in Rochester, NY unlike Virginia not only do gays have equal rights but even gay marriage is allowed there now too. That fact was TOTALLY overlooked by the employee at Rochester's FOX 31.

Yes you have a valid point Chris... Folks will believe anything or whatever the media tells them to believe. Sad to say a very valid issue.

GoBucks89 said:
So are you suggesting "Fast Lane is gay" t-shirts? :)

Or maybe "Fast Lane is immoral." Same thing, right?

Neither, and no :)

I'm thinking this will brew into Dolly needing to make a public statement - GLBT folks are very persistent when it comes to an issue or injustice.

^Some of us are; as we should be - in a nice way, of course.

Dolly loooves her BLT (Bacon Lettuce Tomato) folk. She loves everyone and seems to be a great humanitarian. And smart, too.

Carrie J. said:
I really can't see being upset over that term and not likely also being upset at being told your shirt is offensive. It's kind of splitting hairs in my opinion.

Unless a lot of loud people in our very divisive culture are making it a regular point to tell you that your idea of what a family consists of is wrong. There are a lot of nutty people who believe that two moms (or dads) plus children make not a family. Straight as I might be, I can't see my family as having any less love if my partner raising my child was a man.

^Well put.

+1

I have to say... I own that T-Shirt as well as a T-Shirt that says "Legalize Gay". I would not take either of them off or turn them inside out for ANYONE. :D If the park is within their right to ask this because of their dress code policy, then across the board you would have to ask every person with a shirt containing any sort of political or social message to turn their shirt inside out.

I don't think it is any business of the park to ask them to do this, unless it was a shirt with:

a.) profanity
b.) profound images
c.) lewd statements
d.) messages of hatred

I do not believe this shirt had anything wrong with it and I would not have changed my look for a soul.

^Kudos for standing up for your beliefs!

I felt the same way until the light went off in my head - about how the shirt may look as an anti-gay thing.

I thought about making a shirt that just has the word GAY on it real big. No silly innuendos or hint, just make it simple.

Actually, I just sent an email to Dollywood that reads as follows:

I am sending this email today as a gay man who had read in the news about an incident that occurred at the park recently.

From what I understand, a lesbian woman spending the day at the park, wearing a "Marriage is so gay" T-Shirt was asked to reverse her T-Shirt inside out, citing the park is a *family friendly* park.

I have to say, as a roller coaster enthusiast, an amusement park lover, and adventurist, I have always made it a point to try to get to Dollywood for its sought after high end entertainment and friendly atmosphere it is known for. However, I am absolutely appalled at this news story, and as a gay man with a family of my own, I am confused as to what reason I would want to bring my family to your park for, if this is your company's stance on gay marriage, that it is not family friendly, and a taboo subject.

The year is 2011, and I would certainly hope that discrimination against homosexuals is not taking place in your park.

I have to say, I personally own the very same T-Shirt, and one that says "Legalize Gay" and I would not turn that shirt inside out for ANYONE, not even Dolly Parton herself. So I send you this email today, asking you, Dolly Parton to let the public know what your personal stance on this situation is, how you will change policy in your park for the future, so that you do not loose the LGBT community as patrons to your amusement park. And even more personally? Is this how my family would be treated at your Park? A Reply is Appreciated.

--

I am certainly expecting a response. Companies do not let this stuff go unspoken.

^If you look at it from the perspective of Dollywood actually protecting us, in their own way, does it feel different?

Another thing to remember, this is one incident; it's not the park proclaiming anything (that glbt folks are not welcome, etc.). If we want others to understand us, I feel it's good to look at it from all sides and open it up for discussion and hopefully - understanding. Make it something positive in the end. I too, tend to lash out. But I get more in the end (and sometimes able to give to others, too) when I think it out, and talk about it.

I'd expect to be asked to turn my shirt inside out if it said, "Marriage is so hetero"

I still don't think it's a 'gay' thing per se, but rather a "I feel the need to publicly display my sexual preference" thing.

I can understand a park shying away from that.

^Don't you mean sexual orientation?

Sexual preference(s) is a whole different thing.

Yeah, you're right.

Should black people hide they are black? Not go out in public as who they are because they should not force the fact that they were born black on people's eyes? No. You're making a ridiculous statement.

And no, you're trying to find the silver lining in this story. But there isn't one, and the park was not trying to *protect* the gays. lol