Dollywood to lesbian: Change gay-marriage tee

Lesbian couple Jennifer Tipton, left, and Olivier Odom are seen at a coffee house in Knoxville, Tenn., July 25, 2011. / AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A lesbian couple is asking for changes at Dollywood after an employee asked one of the women to turn her T-shirt reading "marriage is so gay" inside-out to avoid offending others on a recent visit to the Tennessee theme park complex.

Olivier Odom and Jennifer Tipton said Tuesday they want the park to be more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families after Odom was asked to reverse her shirt when they visited Dollywood Splash Country next to the Pigeon Forge amusement park. The story was first reported by WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens said on Tuesday that Dollywood is open to all families, but their dress code policy is to ask people with clothing or tattoos that could be considered offensive to change clothes or cover up.

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Owens said the couple was not asked to leave and complied with the rules to reverse the shirt when asked.

"The park is open every day to everybody," Owens said. "We try to provide an environment for families of all shapes and sizes to enjoy themselves.

Owens said park officials were discussing the matter and would speak with the couple directly.

Odom said that they visited the water park July 9 with friends and their friends' two children when she was asked by a person at the front gate to turn her shirt inside out because it was a family park.

Odom said she complied so as not to make a scene in front of the children, but felt offended.

"That's what we found so offensive — that he said it was a family park," Tipton said. "Families come in a wide range of definitions these days and we were with our family."

The two said they felt they needed to file a complaint with Dollywood because they believed it was important to stand up for their beliefs in marriage equality.

"If marriage equality is going to happen, it's not going to happen if people sit at home quietly," Odom said.

Odom said they understand the park can have dress code policies, but she felt Dollywood needed to make their policies clear and provide better training for employees when determining what is considered offensive.

Odom and Tipton are not legally married, but held a ceremony last year in North Carolina. They wrote an email to the park asking the park "to implement policies that are inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; conduct staff sensitivity training; and issue a public statement indicating that the park is inclusive of all families."

Owens said the couple's complaints have sparked discussion at the park about the dress code, a policy that park employees deal with frequently because of the thousands of visitors every year.

[IHeartTN]

Good for Dollywood for sticking up for Christian values and traditional marriage! That is one reason i love coming to the Gatlinburg area and Dollywood.

[homophobe101]

I would comment more but I'm now going to go out and buy several of Dolly's CD's.

[homophobe101]

I'm sick of gays trying to take their sickening sexual life and rubbing it in our children's noses. You want to be gay and advertise it? Then stay out of children's parks.

[gbgentleman]

But religious T-shirts would be just fine? I'm sick and tired of religious people walking around with bibles or shirts proclaiming their belief in a fake deity. How dare they shove that crap in mine or my children's noses. If you want to do it then stay off city streets....

BTW just in case you didn't figure it out, the above is sarcasm (mostly anyway)

[ZunarJ59]

Hey folks: if you're gay then you're gay. I don't want to know about it or hear about it. I know your agenda is to invoke affirmative action or to seek reparations but would ja just please chill. I really don't won't you to know about my love life and I'm ashamed for you to insist I know about yours.

[tsprague52]

Actually, the push for same sex marriage is a matter of equal treatment under the law, not to invoke affirmative action or to seek reparations. Why would you think that it is?

[gbgentleman]

Though if you're a man the fact you walk hand in hand with a woman already suggests what your love life is.

[SetipClubDJ]

This forum is ridiculous. Don't waste your time commenting.

[TnBailey]

Since when did people start becoming so easily offended? Personally, I'm offended when I go out to eat and the kid at the next table is screaming, throwing food and the parents take no action. The are infringing on my right to enjoy my dining experience, but I suck it up and keep my mouth shut. Why can't others do this??? Personally, I love Dolly, but she can be a controversial personality and many of her songs, movies and other projects can be considered offensive by some....."baby i'm burning out of control", "i may not be in love but let me tell you i'm in heat", "wish i had a swing like that in my backyard", Best Little ********** in Texas, tight revealing clothing, etc. Dolly has NEVER shied away from taking a stand and these women shouldn't either. And exactly which word on the t-shirt was offensive? Heterosexuals say they don't flaunt their sexuality...but look on their left hand and I bet you're find a wedding ring. Isn't that telling the world you're business???

[phydeux2]

This has nothing to do with "bigoted theists". This comes down to the park being private property, and its up to them to determine what's over the line. I've been asked at a mall to turn my shirt inside out because it was anti-illegal-immigrant. I complied, didn't make a stink over it, and now watch what I wear when going there.

The problem here is the gotta-be-activist-about-everything attitude in America today. People can't simply disagree with something and go on with their lives. Oh no! They have to bang that activist drum, petition the courts and legislators to change the laws, and cry foul until their demands are met.

Whether its gay rights, CFL light bulbs, or the Indiana bat, everyone's up in arms about something. And this sort of silliness just adds to it.

To this couple I'd like to say, "The amusement park is NOT your political stumping grounds. If you want to make a statement, do it on your own property or in the public common, not private property. Especially when you know the founder is a devout Christian who might just take exception to your lifestyle on religious grounds."

[vbtw21]

The entire comment is an eyesore. If people kept this country and it's laws the same as before women would still be unable to vote. African Americans would still be slaves. I guess that's just the way you would love to have it.

Had a straight couple worn this shirt would the same approach be taken and would your comments be the same??

[SJames6621]

ifr you were demonized all your life, often gays are suicidal etc you'd sing a different tune.

BTW your anti immigrant T shirt is just part of the repubs demonizing immigrants.

And the CFL mess - CFLs save electricity by about 3 to 1. Help us to stop sending our money for oil to the people who gave us 9-11. Next you;ll say your a patriot.

devout xtians - the people who gave us slavery, the KKK and segregation.

the people who hate Obama cuz their worst nightmare has come true.

the people who give America a repeating 9-11 every single year in the suicide of American gay children. Driven to self murder in the name of the Xtian god.

We are fighting the wrong war on terrorism.

BTW McVeigh of ok city bombing was a devout xtian. His minister has called for the genocide of gays .

He sent a man to a the heath care town hall in AZ back a couple years ago cuz Obama was there. this was the guy with the assault rifle.

Right wing Xtianity is the curse of our nation. Just as it is the curse of Norway - the guy was a xtian extremist who hated muslimss etc etc. He killed about 90 kids, hoping to end the group which provides a lot of the younger liberal leadership.

And he was proud of his work. As was hitler (btw a catholic still not excommed for 55 million murders by his church. Another horror story.

[USMC-Mom]

So, if she doesn't have the right to a dress code they sues the Courts. They have dress codes, so do schools. Now people will say well those are governemnt places....BS, of all places "freedom" shold first be in a governent place.

I miss the days when people took pride in how the dressed.

Don't like Dolly? Don't go or buy her stuff...I sure she will survive.

[CJamesTournbleau]

This is not really about being GAY or straight. It is a freedom of speech issue and question of civil rights. Is everyone treated the same way under the same scenario? I am sure Dolly Parton wants it that way. But that does not mean that all of her employees are on the same page.

[dogsoul]

People often confuse freedom of speech as it relates to private property. You have a right to freedom of speech, but that doesn't mean a private billboard company is then forced to post whatever it is you want to say. It doesn't mean you're entitled to come into any home or business & excercise your right on their property. Heck, even CBS can (and does) censor what's posted on here... after all, it's THEIR website.

[CJamesTournbleau]

to dogsoul: Yes I agree partially. You failed to notice my comment about Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton is sympathetic to LGBT rights. I am very sure she wants everyone to be treated equally. No doubt about it. However a lot of workers over there in Pigeon Forge definitely do not. What happens in a situation where the issue is about a comment made via any form and the property owner most likely is not offended by the statement. It really is a dual issue. Are straight people given more freedom of expression at Dollywood? This puts Dolly between a giant rock and a very hard place. Yes she does have a lot of old country fans (some new) and MANY LGBT fans. The thing about the gays is this- once you have them they are in it for the long haul, for life. They don't break off when new country comes to town.

[opinionseveryonehasone]

You know...Just because your GAY doesn't mean that you don't have to respect those that aren't. In the thinking here, there is no difference in your shirt vs. someone's that says they don't believe in being gay. Reality check, we have just as much of a right to be straight!!!

[vbtw21]

Reality check no one is denying your right to be straight.

[SJames6621]

tell me when a married couple was forced to hide their wedding ring?

BTW I love to wear my "legalize gay? T shirt, event hough I am str8, and btw one of the few str8 people who aren't destroying marriage with divorce. 43 years