Gay Days begins annual festival in Orlando as parks celebrate Pride Month

Optimistic me thinks that people naturally become more open to things as they age, because that's what logically happens as you acquire more information. Realistic me sees that many people ignore that input and double-down on what they want to think.

If I could generalize about how people are since the pandemic, it's that they're more willing to just be who they are. That's a double-edged sword, for sure. It's not that uncommon to see total disregard for arbitrary gender standards, in terms of appearance, at Disney parks. (And they are arbitrary, just as anything else learned.) And not so much at the parks, but at your local Wal-Mart, you see the people with the "**** your feelings: TRUMP 2024" shirts. It's one thing to be unapologetically yourself when it won't harm anyone else, but quite another when your intent is harm, fear and hate.

I still don’t understand how “owning woke libs” isn’t just a thing that Republicans give occasional nods to, but seems to be the entire platform.

The_Orient_of_Express:

But it does come off to me like a cheap and easy way for Disney to make some coin. But that’s nothing new I guess

I'm thinking guests would want as much merch available as possible, have a good selection to choose from. They've already dropped some serious bucks just to get into Disney, why not pick up something to commemorate the visit? I mean it's better than a few racks of merch in the back...

ApolloAndy:

I still don’t understand how “owning woke libs” isn’t just a thing that Republicans give occasional nods to, but seems to be the entire platform.

There's more, but "slash medicare," "cut taxes on billionaires" and "trash the planet" don't poll well.

Because the previous entire platform was denying equality in marriage. That was a fail so this is the next newest thing.
I heard an analyst that observed DeSantis, during a recent speech, use the word “woke” something like 27 times in 5 minutes. Well… I can’t find documentation so let’s just say it was something outrageous like that. And now Trump claims he doesn’t like the word, which I think we’d all recognize as a lie. What jackasses.

Did anyone else see that apparently Chick-fil-a of all places is now too Woke for some people? This is the same place that isn’t open on Sunday because it’s the Lord’s Day.

https://www.nytimes.com/202...e-dei.html

I just want to be able to go into any place of business, theme parks included and not be peppered with every sort of celebration or social movement that is being practically shoved down my throat.

Queue the CB pitchforks…..

7 times in 26 seconds.

You’re the best.

Hanging n' Banging:
I just want to be able to go into any place of business, theme parks included and not be peppered with every sort of celebration or social movement that is being practically shoved down my throat.

Ok, well, you asked for it.
You mean like Christmas, Halloween? Mother’s Day? Super Bowl Sunday?
Wait, I know. All those things are fine, you just wish you and your kids didn’t have to see it, right?

How to Use Cue vs. Queue Correctly

Jeff:

Being profitable is not inherently bad.

Disney figured out the old stereotype of how affluent the LBGTQ community is?

BUT INDOCTRINATION!

Seriously though, I'll never understand people who loathe others experiencing joy and celebration. These things have no material impact on anyone who isn't interested. Not even throat shoving.

I particularly love the DEI backlash. "Just hire the best candidates!" Yeah, stupid, that's exactly the thing that DEI is intended to fix.

Wait...what's there to "fix" if the best candidates are actually being hired?

They're not being hired, because of subtle racism, sexism, etc. This has been well studied and explained with data. And pay disparity is insane. I've seen it first hand as a manager.

Went to Epcot for lunch (as one does). There are photo ops as well.

Timely opinion piece from USA Today: "Good for business."

Thanks a million times for that link. It’s that kind of clear thinking on the subject that gives hope when people are busy trying to make it seem like things can’t get any worse. If they’re trying to overwhelm with nonsense it’s evident. Another article highlighted within that one, “Can you not?” is also an excellent read.
The notion that corporate sallies are simply destroying themselves is ridiculous. In fact it’s just the opposite. People still occasionally ask me if it’s “ok” to go to Cracker Barrel. It is. Years ago after unceremoniously firing every LGBTQ employee they could identify they paid the price for ill will and bigotry. Word of mouth about what a rotten company they were was strong and in the end the company realized what a bad look it was. Coors suffered the same fate. Someone over there forgot that gay bars were a big part of their business until it went away. I had to laugh when people posted that they would leave Bud Light for XYZ Beer. The joke is that there’s not a major label or brewery that isn’t an ally and many of them are official sponsors of Pride around the globe. And I doubt Kid Rock is somewhere dying of thirst.
I’m really interested to know that even Chick-fil-A has riled up the right wing by using inclusive language in its company material. My personal one man jury is still out on that one- in other words they’ve been busted in big fat lies before so I’ll believe it when I see it. And in the meantime they can keep their waffle fries.

Even if it is only lip service, the Chick-fil-A example is good evidence for the idea behind that USA Today article. It's good business even for them.

That pretty much leaves Hobby Lobby and a few other cranks.