Written by Carol (Taylor) DiPietro
Editor’s Note: Many of you who worked at Disneyland in 1978 might remember the so-called “Gay Private Party,” and the management uproar about it. The author of this story was very involved in arranging it, and worked at Disneyland at the time. This is her story about how it happened. It is a story about the history of Disneyland during a period when attitudes were changing.
I worked in Fantasyland from May 1974 (I was 17) through late 1978. I visited Disneyland many times since I was six years old. I was and continue to be loyal to Disney. When others were picketing; refusing to work, I worked. I thought about the people that had traveled to visit the magical place I loved working at, and didn’t want that experience to be sacrificed or Disney’s image to be tarnished.
Switching gears:
On May 25, 1978, there was a private party for “Studio One and the LA Tavern Guild,” or as listed on the official Disneyland schedule, the “L.A. Restaurant Association.”
What Disneyland management was unaware of until approximately three weeks before the event, and in turn, chose not to inform Disney cast members of until the night of the event, the private party was actually promoted exclusively to what is now known as the LGBT community. Tickets were sold at gay bars and restaurants around Southern California, as well as a club in San Francisco.
This was the 1970s; a very different time from today. Employees at many companies were fired just for being gay and many gay men and women remained “in the closet” with family, with friends, and certainly with employers.
It was like living a double life in which the best version of themselves, the true version, surfaced only when surrounded by their peers, generally when visiting the local gay and lesbian bars. This is when their spirits shined.
I worked many of those “private parties“ at Disneyland. It was wonderful to see groups (whether corporate employees, postal workers, grad nights, etc.) enjoying themselves with the magic of Disneyland. I thought: Why shouldn’t the gay community be able to enjoy a similar experience? Being able to visit Disneyland without pretense and enjoy an evening out with friends and allies… like a night out at the disco, only tenfold…. it was a dream; MY dream!
Yes, I worked many of those private parties. I also loved dancing at the local gay bar with my gay friends. It saddened me when I spent time with them outside of the bars, observing not an unhappy side, but a side of them with a shadow; a muted, unauthentic version of themselves.
The idea of an exclusive “private party“ for the gay community was something I just could not let go of. Now I was an hourly, albeit union, employee. Even at my young age, I certainly knew that staging a private party at Disneyland would require financial backing, as I assumed at some point a lump sum of money would need to change hands.
A series of events transpired.
A car accident on my way to work in 1976 resulting in broken tibia & fibula leg bones and a full length cast which I offered to dye to match my costume so I could go back to work. When Disneyland nixed that idea, I spent the time off getting further involved in human rights causes, with an emphasis on gay rights. I served on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Gay Community Center, worked the crisis hotline; joined other human rights leaders on the Freedom Float in the Hollywood Lane Parade; worked with the LA Human Rights Coalition; and served on the Advisory Board to the LA Gay Community Services Center.
It was at the latter that I met the person that could facilitate my dream of a Gay Night at Disneyland becoming a reality. Like me, Scott Forbes (owner of Studio One, a popular LA gay disco), loved Disney and enthusiastically said, “Count me in.”
The next morning I was on the phone with the group sales department at Disneyland. Dick Nunis and Ron Dominguez did not discover my identity as a working Cast Member and the fact that I was the organizer of the event, until they learned of the true nature of our private party.
I’ll never forget the day I was working in Fantasyland approximately two weeks before our party. A couple of fellow Cast Members saw “three top brass” heading straight for us; one actually gasping in shock/fear (I’m not sure which). I looked up to see what they were referring to, and immediately recognized Ron Dominguez, and said to my cast mates, “Don’t Worry. I’m pretty sure they’re here for me.”
Since no one I worked with knew anything about the private party I was organizing, they didn’t understand my comment, but seemed relieved nonetheless. When Ron Dominguez walked directly up to me, it certainly generated curiosity, however neither of us said anything that would give anything away. They simply wanted to put a face to the name.
Remember, at this point, we were still a couple weeks away, and these guys simply didn’t know what to expect. They were concerned and I understood that. I wanted to alleviate their concerns, but my experience with the gay community was pretty extensive and theirs was not. I was confident that attendees would be well behaved, and I hoped would be well received by Cast Members working that night.
This was a time of many preconceived notions regarding the gay community and our night could potentially be a positive step toward changing that. I should note that most people did not realize that they had gay friends, because they were in the closet.
Every ticket sold came with a note from me. I told people to dress appropriately with no suggestive or lewd sayings on their attire. I said that no one would be admitted “in drag.”
I asked people to not attempt to bring alcohol, drugs, or amyl nitrate into the park.
I also informed them that they would not be admitted if they were found to be either drunk or stoned.
As I said, although Ron Dominguez and Dick Nunis did not realize this, I considered how our event affected Disneyland’s reputation a high priority. For our event to be a success, it had to be a win for both sides. From my follow up conversations with Disney, they were pleasantly surprised and relieved by the conduct of the attendees.
Disneyland discovered that gay people spend a lot of money on concessions and souvenirs. Also, that many gay people work in the service industries, and treated Cast Members kindly and with respect.
Disneyland was used to setting aside space for buses in the parking lot, but they never expected the large number of limousines. (I made a mental note to mention that to the Magic Mountain staff prior to the party I was organizing there in September that year).
On a personal note, over the following two decades, many of the people that attended that night tragically lost their lives to the AIDS epidemic, including many of my best friends. These were talented, incredible individuals that had much more to share with the world. I’m so glad they were able to enjoy that special night at Disneyland on May 25, 1978.
As a side note, the next day a supervisor called me and told me not to come in anymore. But then upper management called that supervisor and said no way. She’s fine, put her on the schedule.
July 1st, 2022