During my hiatus from computer-land, I vaguely caught wind of this story of a lesbian couple being harassed at Dollywood because one of them was wearing a t-shirt that said “Marriage Is So Gay.” My first reaction to that was, well, if this is true, Dolly’s not gonna be happy, not one bit. Here’s the background:
The tempest over Odom’s T-shirt happened on July 9, when she and Tipton, accompanied by a friend and her daughters, arrived at the popular Pigeon Forge, Tenn., park.
Odom and Tipton said what really rankled them was the explanation from the gatekeeper.
“He said it was a family park,” Tipton told the Knoxville News Sentinel newspaper. “Families come in a wide range of definitions these days, and we were with our family.”
Odom said she was furious but agreed to the gatekeeper’s demand because she “didn’t want to make a scene in front of the girls.”
And, as I predicted, Dolly’s not happy about this:
Country star Dolly Parton has personally apologized to a lesbian couple that was stopped at the entrance to her Dollywood theme park because one of the women wore a T-shirt that read, “marriage is so gay.”
“I am truly sorry for any hurt or embarrassment regarding the gay and lesbian T-shirt incident,” she wrote in a statement. “Everyone knows of my personal support of the gay and lesbian community. Dollywood is a family park and all families are welcome.”
That’s right, rogue Dollywood staff. EVERYBODY KNOWS Dolly loves her some gays and lesbians, so be nice.
All of this makes me want to post this song.
[...] He signed some wingnut pledge from Maggie and the folks at the National Organization for Marriage. One of Dame Srivastav of the Bare Ring Finger’s missives where she pounds her fists on the table and continues to waste her life hating gay people, and wants to take the rest of the population down with her. Michele Bachmann signed it too. Strangely, Tim Pawlenty did not. He says he prefers to make his own video about wanting to institutionalize discrimination against gay people, where he says it in his own words. “Pawlenty’s communications director Ann Marie Hauser, personally informed me on Tuesday that Tim Pawlenty would not sign NOM’s marriage pledge,” said Maggie Gallagher, chairman of the board of NOM. “Like many people, we are scratching our heads wondering why Gov. Pawlenty, who has been a champion for marriage in Minnesota, would not commit to doing so for America.” [...]
I took my daughter to Disneyland about five years ago and on our last day IN the park I debated wearing a T-shirt that I had brought with me.
It had the pride colours logo and name of the GLTB community choir I sang in (and still do) and I was concerned that some people, it being a “family” place would be offended.
Then I thought there would also be people there that were gay, or lesbian, or transgendered, or bi or what-have-you that might be struggling with their identity; in the closet, debating coming out etc. and felt that seeing someone actually unafraid to be “out” might be beneficial to them. I decided that I was wearing it for THEM and not for me.
I got the odd look here and there but for the most part, there were no real negative reactions from “guests”. However, some of the “cast members” in various stores and at the rides were very friendly and accomodating as needed.
Hmmm… not sure if that really relates to the story per se but just thought I’d share.
People should respect other people’s interpretation of marriage. It is true that most people may not understand and accept same sex marriages. But no matter how it is seen, the most important thing is that folks are happy in their marriages.