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NAACP Issues Travel Warning Ahead of Pride Month at Disney

Pride CM Disney
Credit: Disney

It’s June 1, and pride is blooming all over the Walt Disney World Resort to support the LGBTQ+ community.

To get the party started, hundreds of LGBTQ+ Guests are headed to Orlando to celebrate a four-day-long set of events called “Disney Gay Days.” The sold-out “Gay Days” host hotel, the Doubletree by Hilton at SeaWorld, will house proud members of the LGBTQ+ community setting out to soak in the surrounding scenery at Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld.

The Park-hopping extravaganza is marked by the start of Red Shirt Days when participants don a red shirt throughout the Disney Parks to identify themselves as queer. With murals and floral arrangements beaming with LGBTQ+ pride all over Disney, it would seem like the ideal place to be—but some of the “Disney Gay Days” Guests are concerned about their well-being in Florida.

Disney Pride

Credit: Disney

Related: Disney is Accused of Being ‘Woke’. What Exactly Does That Mean?

Human Rights Organizations Issue Travel Warning

Walt Disney World may be the Most Magical Place on Earth, but it’s tucked away in a contentious state.

A war has been waged between Disney and Florida Gov. (Republican Presidential candidate) Ron DeSantis. Sparked by Disney’s stance against DeSants’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, a battle with a man and a mouse has picked up momentum as he steps into the presidential race. With laws limiting drag shows and legislation scapegoating the LGBTQ+ community, DeSantis has emboldened anti-LGBTQ+ voices in Florida.

Pride Mural Disney

Credit: Chris, Flickr

Before Pride Month even began, a gender-nonconforming fairy godmother debuted at Disneyland, garnering right-wing attacks online and a “Boycott Disney” hashtag. Another behemoth corporation, Target, has been under fire for the LGBTQ+ merchandise in its Pride collection, receiving volatile threats to remove it from stores.

With all of the conservative vitriol in the direction of Pride Month, the typically upbeat “Disney Gay Days” weekend is mired with fear. The circumstances in the Sunshine State have escalated to the extent that the Human Rights Campaign, Equality Florida, and even the NAACP issued travel warnings.

Marching on With Pride

Despite apprehension and mounting tension, the Pride event will proceed as scheduled. In a statement to Deadline, Joseph Clark, the CEO of “Gay Days,” said:

​​We continue to be that blue speck in a sea of red, but ultimately laws are laws, and that is the interesting situation we are in.

Pride Merch Disney

Credit: Disney

While “Disney Gay Days” attendees continue questioning their safety in Florida, an Orange County sheriff representative told Deadline increased security would be in place. Still, no other safety measures have been reported at this time.

This is a developing story, and Disney Fanatic will share updates as they come.

About Kaitlin Morelli

A Disney World Guest since before she could walk, Kaitlin is a Jersey girl and former Virginia Tech Hokie. When she's not listening to the 'Moana' soundtrack on repeat with her baby daughter, she's writing, singing, and strumming the ukulele. Kaitlin is passionate about finding the best Disney Park tips n' tricks and moments when pop culture and Disney collide. She's looking forward to eventually taking her first Disney trip with her favorite fan in the making: her daughter.

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