By Joe Murray
June 10, 2003

(AgapePress) - Sit in on any business or marketing class being taught today in America's universities, and odds are that one lecture will focus on this common-sense principle: actions speak louder than words. Translation: the American public will judge your company not by what it says, but by what it does. In these days following June 7, 2003, one cannot help but wonder whether Michael Eisner, president and CEO of the Walt Disney Corporation, happened to miss that class.

The thought of Walt Disney World in June conjures up many images -- oppressive heat, sun block with an SPF 70 rating, those pesky Donald Duck hats, long lines, and of course, Mickey Mouse. But thanks to the "tenets of tolerance" embraced by the Eisner entourage, June also means one more thing to the scores of American families visiting the park with their small children: "Gay Days." Yes, "Gay Days."

From June 3-8, more than 130,000 homosexuals stormed the gates of the Magic Kingdom, converged on Cinderella's Castle, and raised the rainbow flag over Walt's Wonderland. All the while, Eisner and the rest of Mickey's minions were nestled away in their Burbank Ivory Tower, huddled over the sink attempting to wash their hands of the matter. Some stains, however, just won't come out.

For 13 years, Disney and Gay Days organizers have had an "unofficial" relationship in which the Disney execs, without publicly endorsing Gay Days, have bent over backwards to make sure the accommodations fit the needs of those participating in the gala. According to organizers of the event, however, by paying homage to this altar of diversity, Disney has become an "innocent victim" of circumstance. Hogwash.

Make no mistake, Disney is not an innocent victim of circumstance, for that glass slipper just does not fit. While there is no denying the fact that Disney publicly distances itself from the Gay Days festivities, the fact remains that such festivities have received Mickey's implicit blessing. Let's look at the facts.

First, Gay Days organizers expressly sell this event as a Walt Disney World event. Take a stroll over to GayDays.com and see what you find. You are first greeted with an image of a Mouse which has a striking resemblance to a Disney character. Next, the text reads "Gay Days at Walt Disney World." Enter the site and it is as if you enter an adult version of Fantasyland. Disney is all over the site, including a must-have guide to "gay" Disney: A Walt Disney World Resort Outing.

Second, the Gay Days schedule is also telling of Disney's motivations. Long after the rainbow flag has been hoisted above Cinderella's Castle, those lesbians in attendance will jump aboard the Walt Disney Railroad to establish their own lesbian locomotion. Then at 3:00 all the Gay Days groupies will line the streets of Disney for the Magical Moments Parade. According to the Gay Days website, those at Disney will be able to view the famous "sea of red." Also, "this traditional Disney World parade vamps it up for Gay Days." So, if we get this correctly, Disney "vamps" up a traditional children's parade to market a message for the gay and lesbian community. Does that sound like the actions of an innocent victim of circumstance?

One thing is fundamentally clear from any visit to the Gay Daya site -- Disney's name, image, and likeness is littered throughout the site. Enter the Tinkerbell technicality. Disney will not expressly embrace Gay Days, for it knows the backlash would be too severe. So Disney just sits idly by and uses the Gay Day folks as a marketing conduit to the homosexual community. Disney gets the best of both worlds -- a technical denial of involvement in Gay Days, and the free advertising to scores of homosexuals.

June 7, 2003 has come and gone, but most likely, planning has begun for Gay Days 2004 -- and Eisner is buying a new wallet to accommodate the burdens of being an innocent victim of circumstance. Just like any quick buzz, the Gay Days monetary high will soon wear off and Disney's homosexual hangover will kick in. Realizing that over 70% of the American people view homosexuality as sinful, Disney will dispatch its army of public-relations consultants to spin Disney's one night stand with Gay Days organizers.

Disney does have one thing in its corner, as stated by Winston Churchill: "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." Walt must be turning over in his ice crypt.