Of Mouse and Man: Easter in the Land of Disney and at the White House

The following article is a guest commentary and is not necessarily endorsed by the NEPA Rainbow Alliance, its board of directors, staff, or affiliates.  The opinions expressed herein are certain to be that of the author only.

Guest Commentary by Randy P. Orso - (randyporso@yahoo.com)

Family Pride has been responsible for an effort in recent years to have gay and lesbian parented families take part in the annual Easter Egg Roll festivities at the White House. The weather this year made for an icy reception line waiting for tickets to the event scheduled to happen Monday. Only 25 families of the 100 Family Pride families signed up showed up for the event according to 365Gay.com.

Quickly deflecting weather related turn-out problems to more positive developments Cathy Renna, a spokesperson for Family Pride was quick to announce the encouraging news that Disney Corporation is expanding its “Fairy Tale Wedding” program to include same-sex commitment ceremonies. 365Gay.com’s sister site AfterElton.com had run an article a month prior suggesting that the theme park’s denial of wedding services might be in violation of California’s non-discrimination laws.

White House video of last years Easter Egg Roll event shows no signs of families with the rainbow leis that made them so visible to an administration so quick often to leave gay and lesbian parents and their children behind in terms of basic civil rights. In fact when it was time for pictures a press maneuver of only taking picture with children of White House staff, carefully discriminated against having to have sons and daughters of gays and lesbians included. Like the Disney theme parks people were dressed as characters beloved by children like Barbar the Elephant, a bipartisan one, although crowned somewhat imperially. But the White House still seems less welcoming to gay and lesbian parents and their children than this nation’s Disney theme parks. I try to think of a wonderful thought and a wonderful place for all families and instead in our republic I find a second-rate citizenship for some bars me from that vision in regard to the place of same-sex parents and their children outside the Magic of Disney. Like so much in Gay society acceptance seems to come with a ticket price for admission.

While brave gay and lesbians American soldiers fight in wars under an unfair and hypocritical “don’t ask/don’t tell” policy founded upon ignorance, their marital rights are denied them. States argue about gay and lesbian foster parents and adoption rights. Even in Massachusetts, ballot measures more closely to referendum voting on same-sex marriage rights already affirmed by the state Supreme Court. What price will gay and lesbian parents and their children have to pay for their civil rights?

It seems this Easter, a mouse triumphs over a man; Mickey Mouse shows that all people deserve their love to be celebrated (albeit for a fee), while George W. Bush remains unchanging in his stance on Gay Rights. Last Easter, Laura Bush read a book called, “Will You Be My Friend?”, we need not ask that question of the Bush Administration tomorrow. Their actions have proven they will not. Why? Because they don’t love you. That is the Easter spirit! On the day for Christians that Jesus triumphed over sin and death, showing love and sacrifice are the way to redemption, the White House seems to be a bit hard boiled on the details.

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