It’s the time of the year when the House of Mouse gets a little more colorful. Yes, Orlando’s Gay Days are returning this May 29-June 4.
Started in 1991 as a day in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, Gay Days has grown to encompass a week of events that brings in over 150,000 people from around the world. For a time in the mid-90s, the furor from conservative Christians was thick enough to result in protests held outside of the Magic Kingdom. Between the gays and the protestors, it’s clear which side won out. The Disney connection still plays a major part in Gay Days’ plans, with a day set aside for each of the resort’s four parks as a “Gay Day.”
These days, though, there’s a lot more going on throughout the week. For starters, if you’re prone to taking a swim, you might want to stock up on your swimwear. There are multiple pool parties happening every day at the Doubletree starting May 30, between noon and 3 AM. Each party features music from a variety of DJs, including DJ RonnyBoy, DJ Chad Guldry, DJ Mike Sniffen, and more. In addition to the main pool parties, separate pool events are being held for bears and for women.
Attendees looking for entertainment will also be able to find it at several events going on over the weekend. Friday and Saturday afternoons feature the Gay Days Film Festival, with presentations ofPrivate Romeo, Kawa, The Guest House and August. Saturday night, meanwhile, features a Night of Laughter with comedy writer Bruce Vilanch and Julie Goldman of The Big Gay Sketch Show.
The weekend also includes a number of concerts. Parliament House is putting on a number of them, including multiple performances by the “Gay Pimp” Jonny McGovern. The headline performers include Sonique on Friday night, Chaka Khan on Saturday night, and Mya on Sunday night. Each performance includes appearances from adult video stars including Austin Wilde and Cody Cummings, along with entertainers like Nina Flowers.
Goods and services targeted to the LGBT community also have an outlet at Gay Days through the Gay Days Orlando Expo. The Expo is located in the Doubletree, the week’s host hotel, and features a wide variety of businesses, from national corporations to local vendors.
While the events are targeted towards all attendees, there are a number of events designed for subsections of the LGBT community, including Black Pride, bear, and woman-centric events.
Gay Days Orlando begins on May 29 and runs through June 4. For a complete list of events click here.