ORLANDO, Fla., March 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, The KindRED Pride Foundation announced a new global vision building on the tradition of “gay day” at Magic Kingdom®, which is always held on the first Saturday of June to Kick Off Pride Month.
The KindRED Pride Foundation was inspired by the desire to expand the magic created by the 28-year tradition of the original “Gay Day at 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 most had only met on a computer bulletin board service and never all in person.
The event quickly grew to one of the largest LGBT+ annual gatherings in the world. The growth was in part 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 could have known the tremendous impact of the original gathering would have on the social fabric of our community as hundreds of thousands of guests from around the world experienced the magic of RED Shirt Pride Day each year and took the stories and images back to their communities.
The KindRED Pride Foundation’s mission is to honor the kindred spirit, bravery, and courage of the original attendees back in 1991 by expanding the “grass roots” desire to bring the community together to celebrate and to support endeavors by like-minded charities within the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, and Ally (LGBTQIA) community by producing sporting, music, and other special events. The organization is aligning with national, regional, and local non-profits who provide valuable resources to fight bullying, teen homelessness, HIV services, and legal/business/housing services to the LGBT+ community.
Just as on St. Patrick’s Day everyone inclined to express connection to what that day represents by wearing green on March 17th – whether they are Irish or not. So the first Saturday of June will continue to be the day that kindred spirits around the world wear RED in solidarity for Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, Safe Expression, and Kindness – RED Shirt Pride Day Around the World! (#rspd). The goal is to get 1,000,000 or more like-minded people to wear RED on June 1, 2019 no matter where you are in the world.
This builds on the 28-year tradition of people traveling from all over the world to the Magic Kingdom® on the first Saturday of June. At one time, it grew to over 40,000 people but the original mission worked as you can now express yourself every day at Disney. However, that is not true everywhere. “In 1991 the thought of wearing a red shirt with other Compu-Whosers at the Magic Kingdom as scary as it was exciting,” said Michael Jungen. “I am delighted that today, LGBT individuals and kindred spirits celebrate openly and without fear. Hopefully RSPD will be a part of the journey for that same sort of transition in other parts of the world.”
The first Saturday of June will now be RED Shirt Pride Day Around the World!
We believe in the Power of KINDNESS and we believe in the Power of RED. The red in the pride flag represents life. The original organizers chose this color in order to recognize other “kindred spirits” at that first gathering.
What better way to kick off Pride Month than people around the world wearing RED as a celebration of life in all of its different colors, shapes, sizes, genders, orientations, nationalities, ages, abilities, and status.
We invite you to help us search the world for Be Kind Champions. Be Kind Champions who will showcase kindness throughout the year and show solidarity on the first Saturday of every June by wearing RED! (#rspd)
Become a #bekindchampion and learn more at www.kindredpride.org.
Also, learn how your Diversity Resource Group or non-profit can raise funds by participating in RED Shirt Pride Day Around the World.
