Iowa Recruiting Gays at Disneyland

For several years during the time I had annual passes to Disneyland the Gay Days weekend was not to be missed. You can click on the "Gay Days" label below and see some previous posts.

It's going on again this weekend and I won't be visiting that freak show this year, but the State of Iowa has decided to make this event a recruiting tool:

Figuring that plenty of gay couples in California are frustrated by the inability to get legally married here, representatives from Iowa have set up a booth at Gay Days at the Disneyland Resort encouraging them to consider moving to the Hawkeye State.

Iowa is one of four states nationwide that allow gay marriages. That state’s Supreme Court made the decision earlier this year.

Two representatives for three regional visitors bureaus flew out for the three-day Gay Days, when 30,000 partipants roll into town to attend Disneyland. Gay Days is not sponsored by nor discouraged by Disney.

At the booth set up inside Disney’s Grand Californian hotel, gay and lesbian couples sampled wedding cake and posed for photos inside a frame that read, “Just Married … In Iowa City!”

The Iowa representatives took the free photos and supplied the tuxedo jackets and bridal veils. They also handed out brochures touting Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Coralville, among other cities.

“We want people to know that if the California Legislature is unwilling to take the step to give gay couples the right to marry, then please consider coming to Iowa where we will gladly welcome you with open arms,” said Joe Jennison, executive director of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance.

Pity the poor families that showed up this weekend without knowing they were about to be treated to sights they hadn't planned to have to explain to their kids.