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| Lesbian couple Jennifer Tipton, left, and Olivier Odom |
A lesbian couple was refused entry to the Dollywood theme park because one of the women was wearing a T-shirt that read, "marriage is so gay."
Olivier Odom and Jennifer Tipton said what really rankled them was the explanation from the gatekeeper.
"He said it was a family park," said Tipton. "Families come in a wide range of definitions these days and we were with our family."
Odom was eventually allowed inside after she agreed to turn the shirt inside out.
"I didn't want to make a scene in front of the girls," she said, referring to her friends' young daughters. "I wanted them to have a fun time, so I went ahead and did it and figured that I could handle it more tactfully outside of the park setting."
But both women are still steaming mad and have filed a formal complaint with the Tennessee park.
"Our whole deal is about marriage equality and being treated equally," said Odom, who lives with Tipton in Knoxville. "It's not that we're trying to cause a big stir."
Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens said their policy is to ask patrons with clothing or tattoos that could be considered offensive to change clothes or cover up.
"Dollywood is open every day to everybody," Owens told the Knoxville News Sentinel. "We've been very inclusive of everyone and I'm proud of that record that we've had through the years."
Owens added that he intends to reach out to the couple. He said their complaint about how they were treated on July 9 has caused them to revisit - and possibly revamp - their dress code policy.
That would probably be a good career move.
Country music icon Dolly Parton, who owns the popular park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., supports gay marriage. And unlike many other country stars, she has said so publicly.
"I always say, 'Sure, why can't they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do,'" Parton quipped when asked two years ago about the still-contentious issue.
csiemaszko@nydailynews.com
