By KindRED Pride Foundation, kindredpride.org
DIVERSITY • INCLUSION • EQUALITY • SAFE EXPRESSION • KINDNESS
The KindRED Pride Foundation was inspired by the desire to expand the magic created by the 29-year tradition of the Gay Pilgrimage – a HOMECOMING – to Magic Kingdom® in Orlando. The event started with just a handful of people who decided they would meet socially on the first Saturday in June in front of the castle. They would all wear RED t-shirts to identify each other since they had only met on a bulletin board and never in person.
The event quickly grew to one of the largest LGBT+ annual gatherings in the world. Much of the growth was a result of the national media exposure brought on by the protests by far-right groups threatening to boycott. The original attendees unwittingly pioneered one of the first gay travel “destination” weekends. Who knows the impact of the original gathering on the social fabric of our community as hundreds of thousands of guests from around the world experienced the magic of wearing a RED Shirt and gathering in front of the Magic Kingdom® castle each year and took those impactful stories and images back to their communities.
Our goal is for thousands and thousands of previous guests and thousands and thousands of people who have never experienced the “magic” of this iconic event to come to Magic Kingdom® on the first Saturday of each June.
Of course the 30th Anniversary on June 6, 2020 will look quite different than the past 29 years as the entire world has changed dramatically.
However, we believe that if we honor the “kindred spirit” and take this message around the world with your help that many will once again celebrate Gay Disney VIRTUALLY by taking the RED SHIRT CHALLENGE and inviting your friends from around the world to do the same.
Photo by KindRED Pride Foundation