Walt Disney Company releases statement following today's signing into law of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill

Mar 28, 2022 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Monday March 28, 2022 1:24pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made the state's 'Don't Say Gay' official earlier today when he signed the controversial legislation into law.

The Walt Disney Company, which has faced a significant backlash due to its slow response to oppose the law has just released a statement.

Florida's HB 1557, also known as the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law. Our goal as a company is for this law to
be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that. We are dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country.

Disney has come under fierce criticism for its apparent lack of action in fighting Florida's "Don't Say Gay Bill", leading to Disney's top executives taking to various platforms multiple times over the past couple of weeks in an attempt to clarify Disney's position.

In response to the legislation Disney has paused all political donations in the state of Florida and is increasing support for advocacy groups to combat legislation like the Florida bill in other states. Disney has also said it is creating a new framework for political giving that will ensure the Company's advocacy better reflects its values and that Disney executives are on a listening tour in which leaders are hearing directly from employees on LGBTQIA+ topics.

The HB 1557 bill, prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

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wdwmagicApr 01, 2022

I'm closing this thread pending any further news or developments.

ImperfectPixieApr 01, 2022

That book was in the libraries of HIGH SCHOOLS and was NOT part of the curriculum. It is also not marketed towards young adults. Let's please at least be clear in our facts before we start further discussion. https://www.wfae.org/race-equity/2021-11-18/why-is-the-book-gender-queer-being-removed-from-public-school-libraries-and-is-it-obscene https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-education-gender-identity-virginia-a3d4b656bb58d0472af2a1a69ab62708 Personally, because the book is a graphic novel and I've read about some of the pictures in it, I would prefer to limit it to public libraries that aren't inside public k-12 schools, and college campuses. I wouldn't label it as obscenity, because I'm sure (as stated in the AP article) that the book has it's merits, I just think not all high school students are old enough or mature enough to handle the material.

CaptainAmericaApr 01, 2022

"Any gay adult man who felt a kinship with that little boy dressed as Tinker Bell should be made aware of this: It is a very different world from the time you grew up—even from the world ten years ago. In today’s culture, that little boy would not be told it is OK to be gay; he would be led to believe he is ‘really a girl’. Across the nation and the world, gender non-conforming boys and girls are being pushed into believing they are trans. THIS is what is at the core of teaching ‘gender identity’, and it is a form of CONVERSION, just as contemptible as those religious groups that attempt to ‘pray the gay away’."

ImperfectPixieApr 01, 2022

You do realize that young children don't make a connection between pregnancy and sex until they're taught to, correct? (And such education is prohibited outside of approved sex-ed classes, which parents are free to opt their children out of.) They don't see a pregnant person and automatically know how the baby got into their belly. The LGBTQ+ community has just as much right to expect representation in media as everyone else. Ostracization? You mean feeling threatened because they aren't the only voices being heard anymore? The LGBTQ+ community has spent years being shunned, ignored, abused, and worse...is it any surprise that when they finally get someone to listen, they're very loud?

CommunicoraApr 01, 2022

The moderator and site owner have asked us to focus on Disney's reaction to the bill rather than personal political beliefs. If you want the thread to stay open, please consider this when you post.

CommunicoraApr 01, 2022

Another Disney employee has written a piece about Disney's reaction to the law. This one wrote it without a pseudonym. I wonder if there will be repercussions for him. https://flashinggreen.substack.com/p/i-am-a-gay-employee-at-walt-disney