Disneyland MAGA and Gay Days clash – Illustration: Todd Franson, Gemini
Organizers of the “MAGA Invasion” meetup at Disneyland in Anaheim, California appear to have picked a date that coincides with “Mini Gay Days,” an LGBTQ fan event, setting the stage for potential confrontations.
On November 19, a Southern California conservative group called 805 Patriots — which also operates a Facebook page under the name “SoCal Patriots” — announced a meetup of “like-minded patriots” at Disneyland as part of an unsanctioned event planned for February 28, 2026.
One organizer said the purpose of the “Patriots in the Park” event is to “go have some fun by triggering as many liberals as possible” at Disneyland.
The group is encouraging supporters of President Donald Trump to attend wearing red MAGA hats and merchandise with slogans such as “Make Disney Great Again” — a nod to conservative complaints that Disney pushes pro-LGBTQ content and refuses to distance itself from the LGBTQ community.
The group is also selling “Patriots in the Park” T-shirts on its website, noting that each purchase doubles as an RSVP for the event.
Meanwhile, the “Mini Gay Days” event is part of a slate of smaller LGBTQ-themed gatherings organized by Gay Days Anaheim. While the group’s primary “Gay Days” event is held each September, organizers have added extra programming, including smaller themed gatherings throughout the year.
According to People, 805 Patriots responded to a Disney Dining article about the overlap by writing, “Well we didn’t plan this at all but will make this even more fun now.”
Another post on the SoCal Patriots Facebook page shares a KTLA news clip with the caption: “Turns Out I Accidentally Planned this for a GAY Day,” followed by a “Face with Tears of Joy” emoji. It continues: “Yall [sic] Have to Come Will Be Hilarious to Ruin Their Day!!”
While Disneyland hosts a range of official events, neither the “MAGA Invasion” nor “Mini Gay Days” is organized or endorsed by the park. Fan-run meetups such as Dapper Days, Villains Days, and Nurses Days regularly draw large crowds, though Disneyland can deny entry for dress-code violations or other rule breaches.
Disneyland has not commented on the dueling meetups but reiterated its rules banning flags, demonstrations, and disruptive attire. Political clothing is not explicitly prohibited, but the park can deny entry to guests whose outfits may detract from others’ experiences, reports Scene Magazine.
News of the overlapping events has sparked mixed reactions online. Some Disney fans are urging others to skip the park that day to avoid confrontations, while others are calling on fellow fans to book reservations early to limit attendance by Trump supporters.
A Texas grand jury has indicted 57-year-old Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez in connection with the June 1 killing of actor Jonathan Joss. Police say Alvarez confronted Joss and his husband as they were picking up mail at their San Antonio home, which had burned down in February.
The 59-year-old Joss -- whose legal name was Jonathan Joss Gonzales -- was best known for his roles on the animated series King of the Hill and the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.
The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office said in a Nov. 19 statement that Ceja Alvarez "is charged with murder, the most serious charge applicable under Texas law." The office added that, because the case is still pending, no further details could be released.
More than 9 in 10 LGBTQ adults are out to someone in their lives about their sexual orientation or gender identity -- yet many remain closeted when it comes to family members or co-workers.
According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in January, 96% of LGBTQ adults say they have told someone about their identity, while only 3% say they have not come out to anyone. However, up to one-third of LGBTQ adults -- including those who have come out to “someone” -- say they are not out to extended family members, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, or cousins.
U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, one of several Democrats targeted in Texas's latest gerrymander, says she will seek reelection after a federal three-judge panel blocked a Republican-backed congressional map that would have drawn her out of her Dallas-area district for 2026.
The lesbian congresswoman is one of five Texas Democrats whose districts were reshaped to give Republicans a 2026 edge, and among several Democrats who were effectively drawn out of the seats they currently represent.
In Johnson's case, the proposed map would have stretched her Dallas-based 32nd District into Republican-leaning Rockwall County and rural East Texas, while shifting her hometown of Farmers Branch into GOP Rep. Beth Van Duyne's 24th District, a seat Trump won by 16 points in 2024.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
You must be logged in to post a comment.