This past holiday weekend, I watched a YouTube video that nearly made me spit out my coffee in astonishment: It was a message of encouragement from the Walt Disney company.
In the video, you hear from numerous Disneyland employees, or “cast members,” clad in their work uniforms and name tags. While they varied in age, gender, race and jobs (from imagineers to food/beverage employees) each one of them had at least one thing in common – they were gay.
“This message is for anyone who has ever been bullied, teased or harassed for being different, said George Kalogridis, president of the resort. One by one, the Disneyland employees told stories of what it was like growing up “different.” Often, it wasn’t pretty – from being bullied, beaten and even considering suicide, each person shared a story.
“I was asked to leave my cheerleading squad in high school, and then faced with potentially having to leave my school,” said cast member Megan. But, despite Megan’s struggles, she and her coworkers had an important message to give: You are not alone. Life gets better.
I couldn’t believe it.
It was like the doors were parting to “The Happiest Place On Earth” and God himself, or more like, Mickey Mouse, was saying you, too, can belong to our wholesome, all-American family. You, too, are normal, acceptable and worthy of love. It doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight or just feel like an outsider.
Yes, this is the same company founded by a man known for his Midwestern Protestant values, rumored to be a racist Anti-Semite. His films, beloved by children, have been abhorred by minority groups for their blatant stereotyping and lack of sensitivity (think “What Made The Red Man Red” from “Peter Pan”).
But, it appears Mickey Mouse can evolve. And if he can, perhaps so can the rest of our institutions, traditions and public values.
Maybe then we can foster a culture that’s safe for all of our kids to grow up in, without fear of being despised for the way they were born.
You may say I’m a dreamer. But quite clearly, I’m not the only one.
To watch the video, and to learn about Disney’s collaboration with the Trevor Project, a nonprofit preventing LGBT teen suicide, go to http://youtu.be/OCSUfFStTQE.
Gabrielle Nomura is a staff writer for the Bellevue Reporter. She can be reached at 425-391-0363.
