Six Flags says it has dropped a ban on “affectionate behavior” between couples at its amusement parks.
The policy change comes after a gay couple were removed from a queue for a ride at the Six Parks in Mexico City because they were kissing. The incident took place Wednesday. The individuals in question were not asked to leave the park.
A friend who was with the couple took to Twitter to explain what happened. Most of his tweets are in Spanish but translated, they explain how the gay couple were told by staff their actions were unacceptable in a “family-friendly “ park. This is even though opposite-sex couples were also kissing and showing affection to one another in the queue.
Hace unos minutos, en @SixFlagsMexico discriminaron a mis amigos por darse un beso, el argumento fue que el parque es un “ambiente familiar” y que los besos gays atentan contra eso. 🤨 (Abro hilo con más evidencia)
— No eres tú, soy Gio. (@giov_) December 30, 2021
A man who introduced himself as the Park Director explained that kissing was “disrespectful” to others.
Y dice el supuesto Director del Parque que está bien ser “amigos” pero que los besos ya son faltas al respeto para los demás @SixFlagsMexico @escandalamx @SoyHomosensual #SixFlagsDiscrimina #VDayconSixFlagsMexico pic.twitter.com/usdBoJfV2k
— No eres tú, soy Gio. (@giov_) December 30, 2021
Related: Witness the rare, gay double-proposal that went viral
Local LGBTQ advocates were outraged at how the gay couple were treated and took to social media to complain and call for a kiss-in outside the park to protest.
“Lo personal es político, amar es nuestra resistencia, la visibilidad es nuestra herramienta d incidencia. Nunca sientas vergüenza o miedo x besar, LOS BESOS LGBT SON DE AMBIENTE FAMILIAR”.
–@icarlosahedo Coordinador #SaludPositivaYaaj#ExistoTodoElAño #NadaQueCurar
📸@Usagii_ko pic.twitter.com/NR378kKTCR— Yaaj México (@YaajMexico) December 31, 2021
Yesterday, Six Flags issued a statement to its brand Twitter account saying it was dropping the ban on public displays of affection.
“In an effort to maintain a family atmosphere, Six Flags had maintained a policy of discouraging visitors from being overly affectionate while visiting the park,” the company said.
It stressed in bold type, “This policy applied to all visitors, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.”
“However, based on guest feedback, we have determined that having a policy that speaks to affectionate behavior is not necessary and we have removed this policy.”
— Six Flags (@SixFlags) December 30, 2021
The move did not appease some LGBTQ advocates, who say it failed to apologize to the same-sex couple or acknowledge the discrimination which took place. Others trawled the Six Flags Mexico’s social media for images of opposite-sex couples kissing.
Where are your standards applied in this publication?
Double Standard detected… pic.twitter.com/RfWW0ofBpW— Ah jos (@AraizaHernande2) December 30, 2021
Related: “Gay Days” Amusement Park Event Canceled After Male Couple Told To Stop Hugging
Six Flags Mexico posted the same corporate statement in Spanish to its social media. It followed it up with a further statement of apology and promised to do better.
“We apologize for the misunderstanding caused to some of our visitors during their stay in our park on December 29th. We stand in solidarity with our guests, partners, colleagues and collaborators who are members of the LGBTQ + community. Six Flags is committed to maintaining an inclusive environment and does not tolerate racism, discrimination, or hateful behavior in any way towards anyone.”
“Our goal is to provide a safe and fun experience for everyone.”
Six Flags Mexico said it would today meet with representatives from a local LGBTQ group to work together on the best way to move forward.
— Six Flags Mexico (@SixFlagsMexico) December 31, 2021
Six Parks has 27 parks across the US, Mexico and Canada.
Invader7
Uh oh. That homophobic , Latino double standard got called out. Ooops !!!
Mack
Not going to stop them from being homophobic. The latinos will still do it, just watch any soccer match.
Inspector 57
Meh. If the guys were mashing on each other, that’s inappropriate, and the park was within reason to intervene. Being a same-sex couple (with the potential to allege discrimination to the media) isn’t a license to engage in behavior that an opposite-gendered couple would be called out for.
Actually, even without further details about what specifically went down, I’m impressed that Six Flags didn’t kick them out of the park. And, while SF’s subsequent public explanation/apology and its affirmation of the LGBTQ+ community are pure corporate boilerplate, the fact that they issued them is helpful.
Aaron
You assuming that straight couples (e.g., horny teens, college groups, and overly affectionate adults) that make-out in public are being called out for it is cute.
Cam
Aaaaand as always, one of the right wing troll screenames comes in to attack ANY LGBTQ person who is the victim of bigotry and defend the bigots.
It’s cute you pretend that the article didn’t state that multiple straight couples were ALSO kissing and nothing was done to them, AND you indicate that the very sight of two same sex people kissing is somehow an attack on families.
We get it, you’re a bigoted troll and your job is to come onto this site to troll and defend bigots. But you’ve been trying it for years and failing under 100 different screenames. It’s just embarrassing for you at this point.
Openminded
Six Flags should have had a foul called on them for this action, simply because the article states that opposite sex couples were also making out but not being called out for the action. All that said, I don’t care to see any couples making out in theme park settings. Maybe I hold this community to a stricter standard, but even while being a member of this community, too often I see same sex couples who come off as more intent on making a statement in public instead of honestly showing affection towards each other in the midst of their happy moments. A quick kiss between any couple is fine, but it seems like the majority of same sex kisses I have witnessed were the extended kiss with hands on each other that just makes everyone around uncomfortable. Fine in an adult setting, but not in a family theme park.
Cam
This is the screename the right wing troll uses to try to pretend it isn’t a troll but to still insert it’s attacks on the community.
It always starts with a basic agreement of the topic, then there is the pat where it attacks LGBTQ people, here saying that they are kissing to make a statement or that MOST of the kisses it’s seen are inappropriate etc.
Cupcake, this screename was already blown for you months ago, while I appreciate you actually tried to moderate it’s commenting to slip in under the radar, you should probably try it with a new name. Reusing this burned out old name is just sad……..like your trolling.
Openminded
Cam, Go F off with your continued trolling of everyone who has an opinion differing from yours. Obviously, you still didn’t get any, even on New Year’s Eve. Not Sorry.
ShiningSex
Soft kissing or hand holding shouldn’t be a big deal.
Hardcore making out is annoying by anyone
Terrycloth
A quick kiss is fine. Making out ..no..unless it’s lgbtq day at the park .there are kids and families ..I’m all for being yourself but hold back on the PDA
Cam
So let’s see, it’s ok for straight people to kiss at weddings, in a park, on TV, but somehow a gay couple doing it is an attack on kids?
Openminded
Cam, I now understand why you think everyone is a troll. You can’t read and comprehend anything that anyone writes can you. Terry didn’t say anything about differentiating between hetero or gay couples. He made a simple statement that 99.9% of the literate population can understand and probably about that many agree with his statement. Please go troll elsewhere, your screenname has been exposed years ago as the real troll and not so good author of many Queerty articles.