Disney heir comes out publicly as transgender, condemns anti-LGBTQ bills

[SmallFry]

Charlee Disney, one of the heirs of The Walt Disney Co., came out publicly as transgender and condemned anti-LGBTQ bills in a recent interview.

Disney, who uses gender-neutral pronouns, announced that their family would match up to $250,000 in donations to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBTQ advocacy group, during the organization's annual gala in Los Angeles last month.

Roy P. Disney, Disney's father and the grandson of the company's co-founder, upped that amount to $500,000 last week.

“Equality matters deeply to us,” Roy P. Disney said in a statement, according to the Los Angeles Times, “especially because our child, Charlee, is transgender and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.”

NBC

[Cha]

1. Wow.. Good on Charleee Disney!

💙💛

[Ohio Joe]

2. K & R - nt

[sheshe2]

3. Recommend!

[gratuitous]

4. Good for Disney

But this abominable legislation didn't just pop out of the ground one day. Would early unequivocal condemnation of the new law have caused second thoughts (or, more likely first thoughts; we're talking about Republicans after all, and thinking isn't their long suit) in the Florida legislature? Now that the deed is done, Floridians will have to wait for a court to strike down this un-American steaming pile of crap. It would have been much more efficient to stop it early.

[summer_in_TX]

5. Excellent to see Charlee's dad so supportive.

Wish all parents were.

[AllaN01Bear]

6. ohm myyyyyyy, the disney heir , trans , who knew. that should blow the socks of florida gov death se

stick this one in your ear death scentance .

[SallyHemmings]

7. Didn't see that coming

It makes the push back more delicious...

My goodness just let people be.

[Initech]

8. Fuck you DeSantis!

[Marcuse]

10. Florida gave the House of Mouse its own corporate government and now will try to break it.

Disney had been giving most of its contributions to Republicans. Perhaps that will change after the end of its blanket moratorium on political contributions.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. From Abigal Disney

This is a great editorial

Link to tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/08/abigail-disney-florida-dont-say-gay-backlash-stand-love/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wp_main

Some of what’s happening now is new. Last weekend, Fox News host Laura Ingraham warned companies to “stay in your lane” or risk the wrath of a future Republican administration that might reexamine the protections and favors upon which corporate America has come to rely. “When Republicans … get back into power, Apple and Disney need to understand one thing: Everything will be on the table,” she said. “Your copyright, trademark protection. Your special status within certain states. And even your corporate structure itself.”....

But what Ingraham suggested is selective enforcement of such reviews or protections that amount to punishment for speaking up against right-wing positions, rather than a desire to challenge the imbalances that endow corporations with these advantages to begin with.

This time, the far-right-wing political machine appears to have gotten out over its skis. Politicians should be asking whether, come next election cycle, Disney or any other corporation will back them given these threats of arbitrary punishment under a potential Republican administration. Has allowing zealots (and opportunists) to take charge of the right-wing agenda effectively bitten the corporate hand that has fed the right for so long?.....

The political backlash against Disney is a monster of corporate America’s own creation. Once content to stay quiet and feign neutrality while real people were actively harmed by right-wing policy machinations, the mob has now come for businesses. We need corporations to step up on principle, regardless of what the resulting backlash might look like.

The only option for corporate leaders is to stand tall for authenticity, generosity, joy and decency. These things are kryptonite for the right-wing agenda. Fortunately, they are also the heart and soul of the Disney brand.

[SmallFry]

12. Excellent read. Thanks.

“ The world has changed since my grandfather’s day. Corporations looking to occupy neutral ground — including Disney — would do well to admit that there is no longer such a thing.”

[Justice matters.]

15. Since when has Ingraham been elected dictator??

[LetMyPeopleVote]

17. I was wondering the same thing

[Boomerproud]

21. In her own world she is the Goddess.

[70sEraVet]

18. Corporations may decide that their political donations would be better going to the party

that would raise their taxes, than to the party that is going to demand that their business practices stay within ever-tightening conservative constraints.

[Maraya1969]

13. I wish they would donate million and millions to defeat DeSantis, Rubio and Scott. The Axis of Evil

[Maraya1969]

14. Remember when Prince changed his name to "The artist formally named as Prince" I wonder what would

happen if a bunch of us started using non gender pronouns? What would happen if that became mainstream?

[IngridsLittleAngel]

22. Excellent idea

You do know the story behind all MLB players wearing #42 on Jackie Robinson Day?

During his career, Jackie of course received a lot of hate mail, and a lot of death threats. The Dodgers were in Cincinnati, and there were some very credible death threats made. Needless to say, everyone was tense and concerned. An outfielder name Gene Hermanski finally said "I got it!" Got what? "We all wear #42. That way, if someone thinks they're going to shoot Jackie, well, they won't know who to shoot."

So, to protect him, and as a sign of solidarity, the team took the field with every single player and coach wearing 42.

I imagine it blew a lot of people's minds. Those making the threats. Those who weren't so violent, but couldn't understand why white men were playing with a black man. And that is how we now have the tradition of everyone wearing #42 on April 15, even though the number is retired throughout the league the other 364 days of the year.

I'd have to imagine that cis, binary allies suddenly using "they" or even the wrong pronoun to fuck with the QOP would warp their little minds.

[Hekate]

16. There was a nice interview & photo in the LA Times, too

[Evolve Dammit]

19. A bright spot! Thank you Charlee

[AZLD4Candidate]

20. Maybe it was just Walt who was a racist, intolerant, union-busting, anti-communist fanatic prick.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

23. Thank you Charlee

Both for speaking up, and being so open. I wish you all the best and thank you for having our backs as well.

Thank you as well, Roy. To stand with your trans kid shows us what an awesome dad you truly are.

Though, I'd have to think after this, DeathSentence may kick Disney out of the state himself.