A statement on the issue released by Hersheypark’s Public Relations Manager Kathy Burrows this week reads, “Our company has four core values, one of which is ‘respectful of others,; which we define as treating all people with dignity, while respecting their differences and ideas.”

Image via Facebook/Hershey Park

Burrows noted that the Pennsylvania theme park “has and will always strive to accommodate all guests and employees – including members of the LGBT community – to ensure those visiting or working at Hersheypark are comfortable and feel secure.” According to the company, this includes allowing guests and employees “to use the restrooms with which they gender-identify” or family restrooms available throughout the park.

But not everyone was pleased with the decision. After PennLive.com reported the story Friday, many online commenters were quick to offer both adamant support, while others expressed their deepest disappointment:






Some park-goers who saw the announcement as a rejection of the company’s family values even called for a boycott.