Disneyland, the iconic California theme park, announced that it will host its first-ever official gay Pride event, Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite, in June. The announcement, made on Twitter, was met with a wave of support from Twitter users. The event will include dance parties, a formal procession, and photo opportunities, with costumes encouraged as long as they conform to Disney’s guidelines. The celebration will take place from 9 pm to 1 am on June 13 and 15, and tickets will go on sale on April 20, costing $139.
The move comes amid ongoing controversy over Disney’s relationship with Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who last year signed into law the anti-LGBTQ+ “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Many Twitter users in the comments section called for Disney World in Florida to follow suit and host a similar event.
The announcement was also seen as a response to the torrent of anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have emerged in Florida. Eddie Shapiro, the organizer of the annual unofficial Gay Days event at Anaheim, confirmed that the pro-LGBTQ+ ticketed event would also be going ahead.
The timing of Disneyland’s event coincides with Walt Disney World reportedly getting set to hold the world’s largest LGBTQ+ conference, The Out & Equal Workplace Summit. This timing is likely to be interpreted as a poke at DeSantis, who has clashed with Disney over his anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Disney initially faced backlash for failing to take a public stand against the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and for donating money to Republicans pushing the legislation. This resulted in mass walkouts of Disney’s LGBTQ+ staff and allies as well as condemnation from celebrities and advocates around the world. After the backlash, Disney denounced the law and said it would pause all its political donations in Florida. Disney also vowed to fight for the LGBTQ+ community by getting the controversial legislation “repealed” or “struck down in the courts”.
Right-wingers are increasingly using the term “woke” to justify their attempts to boycott companies for being inclusive. The backlash against Disney’s stance on the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is part of a broader trend of companies being targeted by conservative groups for their pro-LGBTQ+ stance.
In conclusion, Disneyland’s announcement of its first-ever Pride event is a significant step forward for the LGBTQ+ community, especially in light of ongoing controversy surrounding Disney’s relationship with the state of Florida. It remains to be seen whether Disney World in Florida will follow suit, but Disneyland’s move sends a powerful message of support and solidarity to the LGBTQ+ community.