(Knoxville, Tennessee) A Tennessee LGBT rights group and Dollywood, the theme park owned by singer Dolly Parton, are dueling over the name for this year's Gay Days at the park.
For the second year gays and lesbians will gather at the park for a day of partying. Last year about 1,000 people attended the first Gay Day. This year's event is scheduled for May 22nd and about 5,000 are expected.
But, Dollywood is balking at it being called "Gay Day at Dollywood".
A lawyer for the park has sent organizers of the event a letter telling them to remove the Dollywood name and logo from advertising material.
The event, like Gay Days at Disney World, is not officially sanctioned by the park and Dollywood says it doesn't want to give that impression.
Spokesperson Pete Owens tells the Tennessean newspaper that the park isn't trying to stop anyone from attending. He said the request was a standard one sent out to anyone in regard to trademark violations. Similar requests have gone out to about two dozen groups, such as tour operators and hotels, who have used the Dollywood name or logo without permission, he said.
But some gay activists believe it is a "kneejerk" reaction to recent gay developments in the state. Large numbers of gays have demonstrated over a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and Rhea County made headlines when it passed legislation calling for the arrest of gays. (story)
The county later backed down and the first Pride day in the area is slated for May 8.
''People feel like there's a lot of hatred against the (gay and lesbian) community in Tennessee,'' Tri-Cities Pride began the event last year. This year, Executive Director Ryan Salyer told the paper.
Salyer said his group would continue to visit Dollywood.
''We just want to go to the park and just have a fun day to be had by all.''
Organizers for Gay Day have complied with the park's request that the name and logos be removed from their website.
People going to the event are encouraged to wear red clothing and Owens says they will be welcomed at the park.
Dolly Parton is a gay icon and has received accolades from gay groups. She once told an interviewer that if she had been born a man, she would have had to have been a drag queen.
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