Gay pride day at disney world
Disney’s Pride Parties & Gay Days: Everything You Need To Realize | PHOTOS
Updated June | Quick jump to each section: | Orlando ▸ | Anaheim ▸ | Paris ▸
Let’s clear things up: what is Gay Days, exactly?
To begin, let’s clear up a common misconception. Many online articles and blogs don’t correctly explain what Gay Days actually refers to. Even fewer enclose the full array of all there is to do during a Gay Days / Disney Pride event.
Let’s learn some rapid history!
Since at least , LGBTQIA+ folks have been meeting up — via their own community-organized events — at Disney parks. They simply called it Homosexual Days.
The name stuck.
In the slow 90’s, an event organizer incorporated the name Gay Days Inc. and trademarked their URL. Today, they’re just one of many professional companies that hosts events, parties and meetups during various weekends in Orlando and Anaheim. Some are free and expose to the public, others are ticketed and held in intimate venues.
These events often overlap, so they compete a bit for visitors and attendees.
So if you perform a internet search for ‘Gay
ORLANDO | Orlando’s Big Party Weekend May June 2 filled with pool parties, circuits and celebrations is all tied to the first Saturday in June known as Gay Afternoon at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Gay Day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom first took place on June 1, , in front of Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom just before the 3 p.m. parade. The idea was for the LGBTQ+ community to accumulate, all wearing red shirts, to be visible and to be seen during a time when doing so could be risky. This year, 33 years later, Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom fell on June 1 as well, the first afternoon of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and thousands from the LGBTQ+ community gathered, acknowledged and turned Disney red to honor that unique commitment.
Check out photos from the day below.
Photos by Dylan Todd.
What days are Queer Days at Disney World? Everything to know about the red shirt tradition.
Joseph Clark will never forget his first Gay Days.
"Just getting off the (monorail) and seeing the sea of red shirts, to this day it gives me goosebumps," he recalled of the annual Pride event at Walt Disney Nature and other Orlando-area venues, which is neither sponsored by nor exclusive to Disney.
Back in , Clark was a regular attendee who made his own red shirt with friends. Now CEO of , he explained the idea is to "wear red, be seen," not so much as a demonstration but a celebration of identity.
"It was just a whole collective of people together, and there was no judgment going on," he said. "There was no 'Oh my God, they're gay.' Like yep, most of us were, or we had friends and allies with us that weren't, who were just welcoming to the people. It was life-changing for me."
Here's what to know about the annual Diverse gathering in Florida.
Need a break? Participate the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.'We have to be on guard a lot': Why shelter comes first for so many LGBTQ travelers'I just wanWDW June Gay Days general Discussion Thread
Gay Days are traditionally built around the first Saturday in June. This year it is June 7, and following the normal schedule the designated parks are:
Thursday June 5, Animal Kingdom
Friday June 6, Disney Studios
Saturday Jine 7, Magic Kingdom
Sunday June 8, EPCOT
The parks are open to the general public, it is not a private ticket event, unlike at Disneyland.
While there are some secret events, and one promoter is actually scheduling a week earlier than usual this year, including a private ticket party at
Typhoon Lagoon scheduled for May
I&#;ll be traveling with a friend, whose wife hates traveling, so he goes with me often. Also in my party will be his 16 yo grandson. We&#;ll be at WDW June 4 to While we are doing the parks, the only one we&#;re doing on the designated time is Magic Kingdom, it&#;s just the way our schedule worked out. I was also able to book the DVC Moonlight Magic event at Typho