Decades-Long 'Gay Days' Festivities Return To Florida Despite DeSantis Vs. Disney Drama

Walt Disney Co’s (NYSE: DIS) Gay Days kicked off PRIDE month, defying Florida governor Ron DeSantis who has been in a year-long feud with the entertainment giant for it’s stance against the state’s Parental Rights in Education Act — the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

The gathering, which began in the 1990s, saw participants and supporters flocking to the amusement park in celebration and in protest. This year, the crowd of celebrants was noticeably smaller.

Sporadic gun violence, which has plagued the U.S., as well as communities from out-of-state preferring not to spend money in Florida considering DeSantis’ opposition to the LGTBQ+ movement, reportedly turned travelers off from making the trip.

“We’re here because it’s Gay Days, it’s that simple,” Mark Stegall, who was visiting the park with his partner, said on Saturday. “Disney welcomes everybody. Maybe the governor of Florida doesn’t, but Disney does.”

What Happened: Rainbow themed plush toys, such as Mickey Mouse with a Pride flag, flew off the shelves of Disney’s souvenir shops. Drag queen bingo was also played as members and supporters of the communities joined the festivities despite travel warnings advising against attending the event.

“For some it’s the safety aspect, for others, they don’t want to spend money in a state that doesn’t support them,” Gay Days chief executive Joseph Clark told the Washington Post. “My message has been, ‘We need your help in Florida.’”

While the event has been ongoing for three decades, issues have been encountered before, such as when a plane towing a banner that read “Warning: Gay Day at Disney 6/1” was flown across central Florida during PRIDE month, according to the publication.

Benzinga's Take: During a time in history when culture wars within independent countries can easily affect the rights of citizens more than wars fought overseas, paying attention to each candidate’s platform in the lead up to the 2024 presidential race is especially important. What it means to be American may be on the line, no matter how we vote.

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