For me personally, when I was 7, I was a burgeoning little gay kid, and while I came from a very supportive family, I endured a lot of ostracism from my peers. Going to Disney World was perfect. It was like entering a fantasy land. I was accepted.

 For me, the gay thing and Disney is ephemeral. It's the same way you can say gay people love Barbra Streisand and Madonna. And who knows really why? It's love of musical theater and fantasy. Plus it's all very neat and tidy. And you know how gays like things neat.

 There are the obvious things: Ellen's Energy Adventure hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. But there are more subtle things. Honey I Shrunk the Audience was directed by Randal Kleiser, who is openly gay.

 The way you might look at something as a gay person is different than a straight person. In the Hall of Presidents (I call it Disney's tunnel of love — it's dark, air-conditioned and half-empty), at the finale is Abraham Lincoln, who says our (government) began by affirming rights.

At a time when we're talking about gay marriage and a government that is curtailing the rights of a large number of its populace … for gay or lesbians that's going to ring bells.

 It's huge. I think this is tantamount to Disney's approval of gay marriage. They're saying, "No matter what the government says, if you want to get married, it's fine by us."

 (The employee) in a Mickey costume is usually a woman because of size issues. So when you see Mickey and Minnie hold hands or kissing, you know a secret.

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