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Reprinted from Cox News Service, May 15, 1998
Disney Gay Gathering Deters School Trips
By Joe Vidueira
STUART, FL -- Trips for 280 fifth-graders to Walt Disney World and other Orlando theme
parks on June 5 were rescheduled, apparently because several parents complained the date
coincided with an annual gay pride gathering.
"The two things don't go hand in hand," said Rhonda James, one of several
parents who called the school district and SeaWind Elementary earlier this week to
complain.
"It's not what our children need to see at that young age," added another
parent, who did not want to be identified. "I've heard stories. There's a lot more
that goes on besides hand-holding. It's pretty bad."
Several parents said they told school administrators earlier this week that they would
not let their children go on the trip unless the date was changed.
On Wednesday, school officials postponed the graduation trips for students at Jensen
Beach Elementary, J.D. Parker School of Science and Technology and SeaWind Elementary.
The children at SeaWind will go June 11; the other schools have not announced new
dates.
"They called to apologize," said James, referring to conversations she had
with Instructional Services Director Barbara Anderson and Assistant Superintendent Hank
Salzler.
"They said they didn't realize the trip's bad timing until it was pointed out to
them. They said it wouldn't happen again."
But school officials said that each school had made its own decision and that the trips
weren't changed because of Gay Day weekend taking place June 4-7 in the Orlando area.
"I don't know anything about that," said SeaWind Principal Delores Calloway.
She said she and her staff made the decision without district intervention after learning
that several students had scheduling conflicts.
At the school district, Anderson could not say whether the gay pride gathering had
anything to do with the change in plans. But she reiterated there had been
"scheduling conflicts" at the schools.
"That's as much as I've been told," she said.
Asked who had made the decision, she said: "I didn't keep those notes."
Assistant Superintendent Hank Salzler, Jensen Beach Elementary Principal Mitzie Chancey
and J.D. Parker Elementary Principal Gail Newman did not return several calls Tuesday and
Wednesday. Schools Superintendent Sara Wilcox referred calls to Anderson.
Several gay groups have planned activities over Gay Day weekend, including events at
EPCOT Center and the other Disney theme parks, according to event's official Web site.
Since 1990, more than 150,000 gays have made the trek to Orlando for
the celebration
held normally held the first weekend in June, according to organizers.
After the celebrants have gone home, Jensen Beach students will visit Epcot; J.D.
Parker fifth-graders will go to Universal Studios; and SeaWind Elementary students will
tour Sea World.
It's not the first time conflict has marred student trips to Orlando in June. Last
year, Hobe Sound Elementary School postponed its planned visit over Gay Day weekend.
In 1994, the district canceled fifth-grade trips to Disney World and other Orlando
theme parks because the gay gathering had prompted threats from white supremacists. No
such threats have been made this year, however, a Disney spokesperson said.
The events are not officially sponsored by Disney, which is not planning any special
activities for that weekend, a Disney spokesperson said.
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