[Continued from part one.]
   Gay Day figures prominently among the complaints that prompted leaders
   of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant
   denomination, to threaten Walt Disney Co. with a boycott last year.
   The issue is expected to resurface during the group's annual meeting
   that begins June 17.
   ''This 'coming out' party is really shocking a lot of people and
   hurting a lot of people,'' said David Caton, president of the Florida
   Family Association, which is pressuring Disney to restrict the event
   to private parties like the one at Disney-MGM. He said Disney has
   declined requests to meet with his group to discuss the issue.
   ''We're not asking Disney to cancel Gay Day,'' he said. ''We're asking
   them to require that it be held at a time when it won't negatively
   impact families and children.''
   Disney officials have said repeatedly that the company has no official
   ties to the event. The Magic Kingdom no longer posts signs advising
   visitors of Gay Day, as it did a few years ago. But the park typically
   gives free tickets to visitors who are offended and want to come back
   on a different day.
   ''Our position is pretty clear and simple. We have a nondiscrimination
   policy and we're going to offer the same business to anyone who meets
   the basic criteria to do business with Disney World,'' said Bill
   Warren, a company spokesman.
   Doug Swallow, a former Orlando resident and computer software designer
   who is credited with creating Gay Day, sees a possible change on the
   horizon. Though he lives in New Jersey, he still gets involved in the
   event and has seen Disney become more cooperative each year.
   ''They're not quite ready to throw an event themselves, but I think
   they're ready to look the other way'' as managers get more involved in
   planning private parties and events, he said.
   Although the theme parks are keeping their distance -- Universal left
   the marketing of its travel packages up to a gay organization -- the
   event's economic benefits are becoming harder to resist.
   Studies have charted higher-than-average income among gays and
   lesbians. A Chicago-based polling company, Overlooked Opinions, found
   in one recent poll that the average gay male household income in the
   United States was $51,624. For lesbian households, the average income
   was $42,755. That compares with U.S. Census Bureau estimates of about
   $36,520 for households nationwide.
   ''If you look at the demographics, gay and lesbian travel is a very
   lucrative and attractive niche to get into,'' said Chris Privett, a
   spokesman for the American Society of Travel Agents.
   Gay Day calendar
   Friday: Sea World during the day. Private parties at Disney's Typhoon
   Lagoon and Wild Bill's dinner show in Kissimmee at night.
   Saturday: Disney's Magic Kingdom during the day. Private party at
   Disney-MGM Studios at night.
   Sunday: Universal Studios during the day.
   Note: This schedule is being promoted by Gay Day organizers, not
   individual theme parks or attractions.
   [Posted 06/01/97 9:00 p.m. EST]
   Party planners. Keith Peterson holds a poster for the 'Beach Ball'
   while Julian Bain (left) and DJ Sammy show costumes for the party.
   GARY BOGDON/THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
                     © 1997 Orlando Sentinel Online
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