Disneyland terror alert: level pink
Taken from the San Diego Gay and Lesbian Times Email Blast today... It's a tad dramatic (G&L Times tends to roll that way) but I'm really surprised that the DisCops didn't take the guy behind the scenes. It's not like them to throw down in a crowd.
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Its dubbed the happiest place on earth, a place where dreams come true.
But it was no fairy tale last weekend when San Diego resident Wil Kenney, 38, along with his partner, four of the couples closest friends and two of their children made their way to Disneyland to celebrate Kenneys birthday. As Kenney and friends made their way to Downtown Disneys monorail holding hands, a group of Anaheim police officers and Disney security surrounded Kenney and forced him face first against a store window with his hands behind his back. They frisked, searched, and interrogated Kenney as hundreds of other Disney guests looked on.
The security team, led by Deana Van Noy, Disneylands security and emergency manager, accused Kenney of threatening a cast member with a gun.
Kenney, however, had no weapon, and none of his friends nor any witnesses saw him threaten anyone. The Anaheim police left the scene when Kenneys partner, a San Diego law enforcement officer, showed his badge, explaining this was a mistake.
Van Noy later changed her story to say, The cast member felt threatened. When asked to clarify how the cast member was threatened, Van Noy changed her story again to say, The cast member indicated she was offended.
Nearly three hours later still, Van Noy said she could not remember whether the cast member said she was threatened, felt threatened, or was offended.
It doesnt make any difference anyway, she added.
We beg to differ.
If Kenney had indeed threatened a cast member, either verbally or physically, then police should have detained him. If they had reason to believe Kenney had a firearm or any other weapon, then they should have had him on the ground, cuffed him, and taken him in for questioning immediately.
Neither was the case.
But if, as it seems, the cast member merely felt threatened or was offended by same-sex couples holding hands, then the scene that ensued - in which several hundred Disneyland Resort guests stood watching police manhandle, search and treat Kenney like a criminal - is a violation of Kenneys civil liberties.
Feeling threatened by a weapon is an acceptable fear and warrants swift and immediate police action. Feeling offended by two men holding hands does not.
We have a number of concerns regarding this event: First, Disney security did not clear the scene by taking Kenney to a private area. Instead, Disney created a scene and harassed him in full view of other Disney guests. Not only was this humiliating for Kenney and his friends (one witness was overheard remarking, Those fags are disgusting. Thank God they finally did something about them), it gave hundreds of people the impression that police were arresting a man for holding his partners hand.
Second, when Kenny asked Van Noy for a refund for the remaining two days on the four-day passes he and his partner had purchased, Van Noy refused.
Most importantly, Van Noy did not apologize.
There was no mistake. No one made a mistake. There is no need to apologize, Van Noy said.
But Van Noy would have apologized if, for example, a cast member had indicated that someone had shoplifted a watch from the Disney Emporium, and security had been called, only to find that there had been no such occurrence.
She confirmed as much herself.
Yes, we would, of course, she stated when Kenneys friends posed the hypothetical.
Will you be apologizing to Mr. Kenney for being falsely accused and detained - and furthermore, humiliated in front of his friends and hundreds of onlookers? they reportedly asked.
No, I will not, Van Noy said before halting the conversation.
The following Tuesday morning, when contacted by the Gay & Lesbian Times, both Keith Martin, security manager for the Disneyland Resort, and Rob Doughty, vice president of communications for the Disneyland Resort said they would not issue an apology because nothing had been done wrong.
Disneyland Resort quickly changed its tune, however, Tuesday afternoon, after Kenney stood his ground. Kenney retained counsel, contacted the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), major media outlets, and elected officials, and demanded an apology.
Doughty contacted us late Tuesday and said several top Disney executives had discussed the matter, and he ensured it would be settled by the end of the day. However, he would not say if an apology would be issued, only stating, It is a private matter between Disneyland Resort and the guest.
With the 10th Annual Gay Days just a week away, Disneyland needs to apologize not only to Kenney, but to the entire GLBT community for its actions.
Further, Van Noy needs to reconsider her behavior, and seek immediate sensitivity training. At the very least, she should consult with PRIDE and LEAGUE, the two Walt Disney Company GLBT employee organizations.
If she doesnt, there are likely to be a number of Wil Kenneys whose fairy tales turn into nightmares in the coming week.
To express your opinion to Disneyland Resort, we encourage you to contact Rob Doughty at Rob.Doughty@disney.com, Deana Van Noy at Deana.Vannoy@disney.com, and Keith Martin at Keith.Martin@disney.com.
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Its dubbed the happiest place on earth, a place where dreams come true.
But it was no fairy tale last weekend when San Diego resident Wil Kenney, 38, along with his partner, four of the couples closest friends and two of their children made their way to Disneyland to celebrate Kenneys birthday. As Kenney and friends made their way to Downtown Disneys monorail holding hands, a group of Anaheim police officers and Disney security surrounded Kenney and forced him face first against a store window with his hands behind his back. They frisked, searched, and interrogated Kenney as hundreds of other Disney guests looked on.
The security team, led by Deana Van Noy, Disneylands security and emergency manager, accused Kenney of threatening a cast member with a gun.
Kenney, however, had no weapon, and none of his friends nor any witnesses saw him threaten anyone. The Anaheim police left the scene when Kenneys partner, a San Diego law enforcement officer, showed his badge, explaining this was a mistake.
Van Noy later changed her story to say, The cast member felt threatened. When asked to clarify how the cast member was threatened, Van Noy changed her story again to say, The cast member indicated she was offended.
Nearly three hours later still, Van Noy said she could not remember whether the cast member said she was threatened, felt threatened, or was offended.
It doesnt make any difference anyway, she added.
We beg to differ.
If Kenney had indeed threatened a cast member, either verbally or physically, then police should have detained him. If they had reason to believe Kenney had a firearm or any other weapon, then they should have had him on the ground, cuffed him, and taken him in for questioning immediately.
Neither was the case.
But if, as it seems, the cast member merely felt threatened or was offended by same-sex couples holding hands, then the scene that ensued - in which several hundred Disneyland Resort guests stood watching police manhandle, search and treat Kenney like a criminal - is a violation of Kenneys civil liberties.
Feeling threatened by a weapon is an acceptable fear and warrants swift and immediate police action. Feeling offended by two men holding hands does not.
We have a number of concerns regarding this event: First, Disney security did not clear the scene by taking Kenney to a private area. Instead, Disney created a scene and harassed him in full view of other Disney guests. Not only was this humiliating for Kenney and his friends (one witness was overheard remarking, Those fags are disgusting. Thank God they finally did something about them), it gave hundreds of people the impression that police were arresting a man for holding his partners hand.
Second, when Kenny asked Van Noy for a refund for the remaining two days on the four-day passes he and his partner had purchased, Van Noy refused.
Most importantly, Van Noy did not apologize.
There was no mistake. No one made a mistake. There is no need to apologize, Van Noy said.
But Van Noy would have apologized if, for example, a cast member had indicated that someone had shoplifted a watch from the Disney Emporium, and security had been called, only to find that there had been no such occurrence.
She confirmed as much herself.
Yes, we would, of course, she stated when Kenneys friends posed the hypothetical.
Will you be apologizing to Mr. Kenney for being falsely accused and detained - and furthermore, humiliated in front of his friends and hundreds of onlookers? they reportedly asked.
No, I will not, Van Noy said before halting the conversation.
The following Tuesday morning, when contacted by the Gay & Lesbian Times, both Keith Martin, security manager for the Disneyland Resort, and Rob Doughty, vice president of communications for the Disneyland Resort said they would not issue an apology because nothing had been done wrong.
Disneyland Resort quickly changed its tune, however, Tuesday afternoon, after Kenney stood his ground. Kenney retained counsel, contacted the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), major media outlets, and elected officials, and demanded an apology.
Doughty contacted us late Tuesday and said several top Disney executives had discussed the matter, and he ensured it would be settled by the end of the day. However, he would not say if an apology would be issued, only stating, It is a private matter between Disneyland Resort and the guest.
With the 10th Annual Gay Days just a week away, Disneyland needs to apologize not only to Kenney, but to the entire GLBT community for its actions.
Further, Van Noy needs to reconsider her behavior, and seek immediate sensitivity training. At the very least, she should consult with PRIDE and LEAGUE, the two Walt Disney Company GLBT employee organizations.
If she doesnt, there are likely to be a number of Wil Kenneys whose fairy tales turn into nightmares in the coming week.
To express your opinion to Disneyland Resort, we encourage you to contact Rob Doughty at Rob.Doughty@disney.com, Deana Van Noy at Deana.Vannoy@disney.com, and Keith Martin at Keith.Martin@disney.com.