Men seek damages for ‘gay slur’ on California theme park photo

Two men are suing a California theme park for damages after a photo of them on a ride was allegedly doctored and displayed with a gay slur.

Craig Person and Edmund Yang went on the Psycho Mouse ride at California’s Great America park in August 2008 and were photographed holding hands.

After the ride, they decided not to buy the photograph but friends later told them the image had been printed out and displayed at the ride’s counter with the caption ‘Were [sic] fags’, a lawsuit says.

The men went to the park’s managers to complain. While the lawsuit says the park was initially responsive, communication then dried up.

Their attorney, Wendy Musell, said: “Mr Yang was in the process of coming out, and it was very difficult for him to deal with this type of ridicule based on his sexual orientation.”

Mr Person and Mr Yang are suing Great America and its parent company Cedar Fair Entertainment Co for sexual harassment, discrimination, invasion of privacy and infliction of emotion distress by park employees, as well as negligence in the hiring and supervision of staff.

They want unspecified damages and policy changes.