LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE....Disney releases their own it gets better video featuring their own Castmembers http://youtu.be/OCSUfFStTQE
Ok dangnabbit finally watched it all the way through. Yes I'm crying. Yes I'm rather impressed. I'm an oldie...and boy oh boy it did get better. I believe that it's not about what you do....it's mnore about who you are. - Butterlina
1313.6 #63 11:18PM
Feel like opening up about this right now...When I joined Disneyland as a Cast Member at the ripe old age of about 17 I had not had very many life experiences and in the mid 90s a lot of things that are now much more normal were still very taboo..I was not really around anybody growing up who was gay or different and really just had the typical stereotypes that a kid might hear on the playground or on the ball field in school...When I first hired into Disneyland my trainer was really a wonderful guy, your All American Blond Hair blue eyes man who fit the Disney Image..As I got to know him better, I really looked up to him and was inspired by his achievements as a Lead, Scheduler and Disney University Trainer!!! As I got to know him better I found he had a wife, kids, a family but I did not know what was to happen a year later…He came out of the closet because he could not take it anymore and was tired of living the lies…As my Days as a Cast Member went on and I went to Entrainment, I was in fact the minority but I can’t begin to tell you how many wonderful things I learned growing up a CM in that department. I have had several friends I worked with at the parks whom came out to me, friends whom told me they have HIV and friends whom have cried to me because their mother went to Church to pray that her son would not be gay anymore. The biggest thing I learned was it was ok just to be myself…..No! I am not gay but does it really matter? I’m not going to even try and make my story of being ok to be crazy a comparison to growing up and being gay and having to deal with backwards people who don’t know what acceptance is….I would like to personally thank the Walt Disney Company for all that they do for the gay community...I have personally seen it in so many ways that there could years and years of stories that could be posted just in this lounge from other Cast Members…..Thank you Disney for setting an example on social equality…..Love you All/ - Dave
8822.1 #2 11:55PM
Hi My pal Dave......Now think how it would have been one decade earlier......when many in those departments were dunned Parade aides......Prop Aides.....you get where I'm goung. Even then it really bit hard. You know I just Lurve you because your Dave. Also perhaps I'm full of fake Benadryl. - Butterlina 1313.6 #63 11:59PM
When Disney first started to offer benefits to domestic partners of gay cm, my boss at the time, told me that people Like me would be the ruin of the Disney Company! I was so shocked and scared at the sane time. Needless to say that sane boss was fired that very same day!!! Thank you, George Kalogridis, for being there for me that day. The support he gave me for several weeks after that will never be forgotten - UppityEmpress 783.8 #2 12:10AM
I can't imagine butter I've never been in your shoes or others...I can imagine the level of tolerance and even though it's getting better it's got a ways to go....thank you for being you and ok with that ...big hugs - Dave 8822.1 #2 12:11AM
My shies wouldn't fit you anyways, what with your toes and my foot binding practices. Hahahahahaha - Butterlina 1313.6 #63 12:13AM
And Dearest Uppity........The first time I met George he was just walking through the park and it was if I already knew him. He's a super fella. - Butterlina 1313.6 #63 12:14AM
Love this. I am crying. Thanks for posting it Dave 👍 - Jillian
766.1 #131 11:06PM
This is such a historic moment in my opinion... - mralexv
306.5 #592 10:50PM
Wow, somehow I missed this post. Thank you so much for sharing, Dave, and everyone else who shared their hearts. Love and peace - PrincessKristin
776.9 #125 11:01PM