A Christian conservative group
protested Disney World's annual Gay Day by flying a warning message
over the park.
The Florida Family Association
contracted a plane to fly over the park dragging a giant banner that
reads, “Warning Gay Day At Disney.”
The group said it flew similar banners
on Friday and Saturday: “Thanks to the generosity of many
supporters, Florida Family Association contracted this aircraft
company to fly a seven foot high banner for ten hours the day before
and ten hours the day of Gay Pride Day at Disney World.”
The group estimates as many as 10,000
unaware people exit the park because they are offended by the gay
event.
“Florida Family Association wants to
warn these families about this offensive event before they arrive at
the Magic Kingdom on Saturday,” the group wrote. “This airplane
banner is our best effort to accomplish that goal.” (Video footage
of the banner is embedded in the right panel of this page.)
Offensive behavior cited by the group
includes patrons wearing t-shirts that “promote homosexuality,”
patrons kissing, hugging and “groping” each other, and patrons
“dressed in drag.”
The group says it wants Disney to
reschedule Gay Day to take place after the park closes.
Supporters of the annual event – now
in its 20th year – said Gay Day gives the area economy a
much needed $150 million boost.
“The economy is improving because of
what Gay Days bring into it,” Gay Day President Chris
Alexander-Manley told NBC affiliate WDAM. “Our crowd behaves
better than most convention crowds, so come on out and see what it's
really about.”
The Disney event is part of a week-long
area-wide Gay Pride celebration.