Dollywood makes gay woman turn her shirt inside out

princessbelle · 07-27-2011, 07:18 AM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A lesbian couple is asking for changes at Dollywood after an employee asked one of the women to turn her T-shirt reading "marriage is so gay" inside-out to avoid offending others on a recent visit to the Tennessee theme park complex.

Olivier Odom and Jennifer Tipton said Tuesday they want the park to be more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families after Odom was asked to reverse her shirt when they visited Dollywood Splash Country next to the Pigeon Forge amusement park. The story was first reported by WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens said on Tuesday that Dollywood is open to all families, but their dress code policy is to ask people with clothing or tattoos that could be considered offensive to change clothes or cover up.

Owens said the couple was not asked to leave and complied with the rules to reverse the shirt when asked.

"The park is open every day to everybody," Owens said. "We try to provide an environment for families of all shapes and sizes to enjoy themselves.

Owens said park officials were discussing the matter and would speak with the couple directly.

Odom said that they visited the water park July 9 with friends and their friends' two children when she was asked by a person at the front gate to turn her shirt inside out because it was a family park.

Odom said she complied so as not to make a scene in front of the children, but felt offended.

"That's what we found so offensive — that he said it was a family park," Tipton said. "Families come in a wide range of definitions these days and we were with our family."

The two said they felt they needed to file a complaint with Dollywood because they believed it was important to stand up for their beliefs in marriage equality.

"If marriage equality is going to happen, it's not going to happen if people sit at home quietly," Odom said.

Odom said they understand the park can have dress code policies, but she felt Dollywood needed to make their policies clear and provide better training for employees when determining what is considered offensive.

Odom and Tipton are not legally married, but held a ceremony last year in North Carolina. They wrote an email to the park asking the park "to implement policies that are inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; conduct staff sensitivity training; and issue a public statement indicating that the park is inclusive of all families."

Owens said the couple's complaints have sparked discussion at the park about the dress code, a policy that park employees deal with frequently because of the thousands of visitors every year.

http://news.yahoo.com/gay-couple-ask...200120079.html

I am just sick over waking up to this, this morning. Right here in my area this happened. I am not that surprised but i'm sick that i'm not surprised. I also heard of a couple, friends with someone i work with, that were thrown out of the park because the couple gave each other a quick "peck" of a kiss before riding a ride.

I have bought DollyWood season passes for years. I didn't this year and will be watching to see if anything is done about this. If it is not, i won't be buying a season pass next year or any year thereafter.

The comments that are attached to this article are even more upsetting.

*shakes my head

princessbelle · 07-27-2011, 08:11 AM

Ok i have to back away for a few. There is so much hate being slammed on these comments that i'm getting hate mail already with my "gay rights" postings.

I am just so pissed off. I just want to scream.

iamkeri1 · 07-27-2011, 08:40 AM

Belle,
Just wanted to slide in under your wings and lift you up. You are a beautiful person, rarely saying anything bad about anyone, so I know it is shocking to you when other say bad things about your people. I'm sorry you are so upset. When we begin to effect change, people get angry; they don't like change, and most of all they don't like to change themselves or change their beliefs. If we were sitting still they would be quiet. There will, of course, be backlash until people settle in to their newer more positive beliefs about queerfolk. The backlash is a sign of the progress.

This one phrase (along with taking positive action, which you did), helps me more than anything else when my anger over injustices gets fired up.

"living well is the best revenge." Live your best life, be happy.

Many hugs to you.
Smooches,
Karen

dark_crystal · 07-27-2011, 08:45 AM

Has Dolly herself said anything? Someone should call her!

Bard · 07-27-2011, 09:11 AM

I did see this before and yes the comments on it are very hate filled Doll no longer owns the park and I have to believe SHE would be not very happy about this.. If you go to the artical and read the coments it will make you angry just remember most are made by small people who can not see past what they do not uderstand so they hide behide hate

DomnNC · 07-27-2011, 09:37 AM

Dolly Parton never owned Dollywood. It is owned by the Herschend Family, she was given a small percentage of ownership for the use of her name. If you want to contact them and complain about what happened you can contact them via their website link below.

http://www.hfecorp.com/properties/

Greyson · 07-27-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dark_crystal

Has Dolly herself said anything? Someone should call her!

This was one of my very first thoughts. I hope Dolly will comment on this directly and not leave it to her PR people.

girl_dee · 07-27-2011, 01:24 PM

They have no idea what they have done.. gonna be a wild ride alright!

07-27-2011, 07:18 AM	#1
princessbelle Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: femme ones Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,100 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,380 Thanked 30,503 Times in 5,201 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	Dollywood makes gay woman turn her shirt inside out NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A lesbian couple is asking for changes at Dollywood after an employee asked one of the women to turn her T-shirt reading "marriage is so gay" inside-out to avoid offending others on a recent visit to the Tennessee theme park complex. Olivier Odom and Jennifer Tipton said Tuesday they want the park to be more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families after Odom was asked to reverse her shirt when they visited Dollywood Splash Country next to the Pigeon Forge amusement park. The story was first reported by WBIR-TV in Knoxville. Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens said on Tuesday that Dollywood is open to all families, but their dress code policy is to ask people with clothing or tattoos that could be considered offensive to change clothes or cover up. Owens said the couple was not asked to leave and complied with the rules to reverse the shirt when asked. "The park is open every day to everybody," Owens said. "We try to provide an environment for families of all shapes and sizes to enjoy themselves. Owens said park officials were discussing the matter and would speak with the couple directly. Odom said that they visited the water park July 9 with friends and their friends' two children when she was asked by a person at the front gate to turn her shirt inside out because it was a family park. Odom said she complied so as not to make a scene in front of the children, but felt offended. "That's what we found so offensive — that he said it was a family park," Tipton said. "Families come in a wide range of definitions these days and we were with our family." The two said they felt they needed to file a complaint with Dollywood because they believed it was important to stand up for their beliefs in marriage equality. "If marriage equality is going to happen, it's not going to happen if people sit at home quietly," Odom said. Odom said they understand the park can have dress code policies, but she felt Dollywood needed to make their policies clear and provide better training for employees when determining what is considered offensive. Odom and Tipton are not legally married, but held a ceremony last year in North Carolina. They wrote an email to the park asking the park "to implement policies that are inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; conduct staff sensitivity training; and issue a public statement indicating that the park is inclusive of all families." Owens said the couple's complaints have sparked discussion at the park about the dress code, a policy that park employees deal with frequently because of the thousands of visitors every year. http://news.yahoo.com/gay-couple-ask...200120079.html I am just sick over waking up to this, this morning. Right here in my area this happened. I am not that surprised but i'm sick that i'm not surprised. I also heard of a couple, friends with someone i work with, that were thrown out of the park because the couple gave each other a quick "peck" of a kiss before riding a ride. I have bought DollyWood season passes for years. I didn't this year and will be watching to see if anything is done about this. If it is not, i won't be buying a season pass next year or any year thereafter. The comments that are attached to this article are even more upsetting. *shakes my head __________________ ~ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou

07-27-2011, 08:11 AM	#2
princessbelle Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: femme ones Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,100 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,380 Thanked 30,503 Times in 5,201 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	Ok i have to back away for a few. There is so much hate being slammed on these comments that i'm getting hate mail already with my "gay rights" postings. I am just so pissed off. I just want to scream. __________________ ~ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou

07-27-2011, 08:45 AM	#4
dark_crystal Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: jenny Preferred Pronoun?: babygirl Relationship Status: First Lady of the United SMH Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,445 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,532 Thanked 26,589 Times in 4,691 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Has Dolly herself said anything? Someone should call her! __________________

07-27-2011, 09:11 AM	#5
Bard Family Man How Do You Identify?: TG Male Preferred Pronoun?: Masculine ones Relationship Status: She just gets me Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ..... Posts: 2,828 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,997 Thanked 12,786 Times in 2,431 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	I did see this before and yes the comments on it are very hate filled Doll no longer owns the park and I have to believe SHE would be not very happy about this.. If you go to the artical and read the coments it will make you angry just remember most are made by small people who can not see past what they do not uderstand so they hide behide hate __________________ This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill Fifteen percent concentrated power of will Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain And a hundred percent reason to remember the name! Give yourself over to absolute pleasure. Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh - erotic nightmares beyond any measure, and sensual daydreams to treasure forever. Can't you just see it? Don't dream it, be it.

07-27-2011, 08:40 AM	#3
iamkeri1 Member How Do You Identify?: femme woman Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: solo Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 821 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 250 Thanked 1,944 Times in 584 Posts Rep Power: 14065934	Belle, Just wanted to slide in under your wings and lift you up. You are a beautiful person, rarely saying anything bad about anyone, so I know it is shocking to you when other say bad things about your people. I'm sorry you are so upset. When we begin to effect change, people get angry; they don't like change, and most of all they don't like to change themselves or change their beliefs. If we were sitting still they would be quiet. There will, of course, be backlash until people settle in to their newer more positive beliefs about queerfolk. The backlash is a sign of the progress. This one phrase (along with taking positive action, which you did), helps me more than anything else when my anger over injustices gets fired up. "living well is the best revenge." Live your best life, be happy. Many hugs to you. Smooches, Karen

07-27-2011, 09:37 AM	#6
DomnNC Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Male Preferred Pronoun?: He/Him Relationship Status: Widow Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Permanently Banned 11/15/2011 Posts: 1,223 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,618 Thanked 2,582 Times in 837 Posts Rep Power: 0	Dolly Parton never owned Dollywood. It is owned by the Herschend Family, she was given a small percentage of ownership for the use of her name. If you want to contact them and complain about what happened you can contact them via their website link below. http://www.hfecorp.com/properties/

07-27-2011, 01:24 PM	#8
girl_dee Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: dee Relationship Status: Hitched up Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Livin’ the Dream Posts: 24,079 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,560 Thanked 54,956 Times in 13,922 Posts Rep Power: 21474873	They have no idea what they have done.. gonna be a wild ride alright!