Disney suspends political donations in Florida after bill restricting LGBTQ discussion
I am amused that Deathsantis is now mad at Disney. This will be a fun fight to watch
Disney announced on Friday that it would pause all political donations in Florida in the wake of a controversial state bill that restricts discussion of LGBTQ issues in public schools. Over the last few weeks, the company had received criticism for remaining silent about what critics call the dont say gay bill, which is expected to be signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
In a statement sent to employees on Friday, Disney CEO Bob Chapek also announced that the company would increase support for advocacy groups fighting similar laws elsewhere (such as one recently introduced in Georgia) and would reassess Disneys political donation policies. Chapek apologized to the companys workers for not making a statement sooner, writing, You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. In response, DeSantis criticized what he called the companys woke ideology.......
The temporary halt in donations comes after the company which operates four theme parks, as well as cruises, in Florida, employing 77,000 workers in the state received intense pressure from employees and fans alike to speak out against the bill. Formally known as the Parental Rights in Education bill, the legislation prohibits teachers from offering lessons on sexual and gender identity, up through third grade. From fourth grade on, it limits the discussion around such subjects to what is deemed age-appropriate a term that is not defined in the bill and, according to critics, could prompt anxiety around discussing gender and sexuality at all......
Disney is one of the largest employers in Florida, so all eyes are on Disney to see what they are doing, and then others follow, she said. Ellis also hopes that Disney will double down on LGBTQ storylines, which can enlighten viewers to the prejudices that allow bills like the one in Florida to pass. People receive information differently through entertainment than they do when theyre reading a newspaper or hearing someones position. It has such unique power, she said Thats where you humanize us and use these stories to tell why this stuff is going on.