15
Credit: Video Screenshot, TikTok, @stephanielizabeth08A Disneyland Resort guest is speaking out after a Disney security cast member questioned her over a That’s So Raven parody shirt reading “That’s So Gay.” The employee reportedly compared the outfit to “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) merchandise, claiming that it was “inappropriate” for the Southern California Disney parks.
Both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort have dress codes prohibiting “clothing with objectionable material, including obscene language or graphics.” However, the attire policies don’t mention political clothing or family-friendly references to the LGBTQIA+ community, like this guest’s shirt.
Stephanie (@stephanielizabeth08 on TikTok) first posted a video moments after arriving at Disneyland Resort. Although she and her group were eventually allowed into the Disney parks, the experience set a negative tone for the rest of the day.
@stephanielizabeth08 is the word “gay” inappropriate? @Disney Parks my chest honestly still hurts and i feel numb? it’s heartbreaking.. #disneyland #queer #lgbt #wlw
“Is the word ‘gay’ inappropriate?” the video’s caption reads. “@Disney Parks my chest honestly still hurts and I feel numb? It’s heartbreaking..”
“I was going through security after parking to get to the tram and security asked if my shirt was appropriate, or inappropriate, because it has the word ‘gay’ on it,” Stephanie began. “…We just celebrated Pride Month. There’s nothing inappropriate about the word ‘gay.’”
“Then they said if that shirt is okay, then MAGA hats and shirts should be okay, which I feel like are the complete opposite of what being gay is and the purpose of the shirt,” she continued. “I feel like I’m trying to be as calm about it as possible, but to liken them to the same thing is terrifying.”
Stephanie said her group felt it was homophobic to say that the word “gay” is inappropriate, especially just weeks after Disneyland Resort hosted Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite events for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies.
“People are gay,” she said. “Pride is for gay people. Or did we not know that? …I also am with a group of queer women and non-binary people and they all heard it, and they all saw it happen. So it feels like it not only hurt me, but it hurt them.”
On Monday, Stephanie and her wife Bianca posted a longer video recounting the experience. The couple explained that they’d both worn the same outfit to the Disney parks multiple times without issue: “Yesterday was the first and only time we’ve ever been stopped or asked…whether or not our shirt was appropriate.”
@stephanielizabeth08 addressing yesterday’s experience at Disneyland. #disneyland #queer #wlw #disney @Disney Parks
“My big issue is that the word ‘gay’ isn’t inappropriate,” Stephanie began. “People are gay…There were people that were saying, ‘Well it’s because you’re at a children’s theme park.’ But children are gay. I was gay my whole life.”
Bianca said the Disney security cast member also compared the outfit to “Free Palestine” merchandise. The couple felt it was wrong to compare Pride merchandise to the MAGA or Free Palestine movements.
“Taking the word ‘gay’ and equating it to the vile hatred that MAGA itself spews, which is the complete opposite, filled with people who want to strip our gay rights away,” Stephanie said. “And then to also add in Palestine to the mix, which is experiencing genocide, and ‘Free Palestine’ shirts are calling for liberation, when MAGA is the epitome of white supremacy…Putting them on the same level is wrong.”
“I was trying not to overreact, but then you keep thinking about it,” she continued. “They were saying it like it was no big deal, like MAGA is not literally terrorizing communities right now. As someone from an immigrant family…I feel like that was inappropriate.”
The couple said it was embarrassing that the security cast member addressed Stephanie’s outfit in front of other Disney Park guests.
“It felt shameful,” Stephanie recalled. “I was proud to wear that shirt. I want to wear queer merch and Latin merch…To wear something like that and have it be deemed ‘inappropriate’ and then compared to MAGA. It’s like we’re allowed to be gay as long as we’re quiet and not out and proud…We wore these shirts during Pride Month, and it was okay. Is it now because Pride Month is over that y’all don’t care anymore?”
Both women said they only received positive attention when wearing the “That’s So Gay” shirt to Disneyland Resort.
“A lot of people understand the shirt,” Bianca said. “When I wore the shirt in the parks the first time, people were like, ‘Oh, I love your shirt!’…So I don’t think there’s any other meaning to it.”
“I got compliments from cast members and other queer people because we get it,” Stephanie echoed. “We know what it means to reclaim our power and reclaim phrases and reclaim slurs because that’s empowering to us. We’re not going to let those words hurt us.”
Lastly, Stephanie pointed out the irony of criticizing a That’s So Raven Pride shirt: “It’s also a play on That’s So Raven, a show that we grew up on and Raven-Symoné is a f**king queer icon.”
Disney Parks fans overwhelmingly defended Stephanie, and many Disney cast members recommended she report the security cast member to Guest Relations.
“Hi Disneyland cast member here, and I suggest you go to guest relations and tell them what happened,” @teriyakijen wrote. “We’re taught 5 keys at work and one of them is inclusion. I’m so sorry for your experience.
“As a former employee at Disney, this is not OK,” @lababygirl00 agreed. “And it’s never too late to go and speak. Call email or in person look for the security guard and turn him in.”
Many pointed out that despite the security cast member mentioning MAGA merchandise, they’d seen plenty of the iconic red hats at the Disney parks.
“As a former cast member, I’ve seen whole families wearing go Brandon shirts and MAGA hats and when I brought it up to the leads they said it was allowed so…. Please file a complaint!” @illbringthecoffee wrote.
“I’ve seen security tell a guy with a MAGA hat he liked it,” said @calierica714. “Not shocked at all. I hope you got that CM’s name to file a complaint.”
Other LGBTQIA+ Disney Park guests shared similar disappointing experiences.
“I couldn’t write ‘I’m gay’ on a ‘I’m celebrating’ pin during A PRIDE EVENT last year !!!” @okayitsdestiny commented.
“F**k @Disney Parks security,” @macdaddy replied. “During the Pride night events there was constant misgendering going on.”
Still, a few commenters argued that the “That’s So Gay” shirt was an inappropriate addition to her Disney Park outfit.
“It just depends the context,” @tom_skullture said. “If it was just the word itself, it’s ok. But that phrase has been used as a slur/slander for many years. If someone can say it to any another person, it’s ok.”
Should Disneyland Resort apologize to this guest? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments!