LOS ANGELES (KNX) – Disney workers in Southern California and across the nation protested the company’s response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill” on Tuesday.
The controversial Florida legislation, which has also been called “Parental Rights in Education”, bans the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade classrooms. It was passed in the Florida Senate on March 8.
Up to 70 employees from Disney, as well as employees who work the company’s affiliates including Marvel and Pixar, protested in the Better Davis Picnic area in Griffith Park.
Organzier Tyler White told KNX News this isn’t just a Florida issue.
“It affects us directly for our employees in Florida as well as what it means in terms of our overall political landscapes and how it attacks our community, as the LGBTQIA community,” he said.
Disney came into the conversation after it was revealed the company donated to sponsors of the bill, as well as to Florida politicians in general.
According to Politico, campaign finances report the company donated up $4.8 million to Florida politicians in the 2002 election cycle, including $586,000 to GOP Senate campaigns and $50,000 to Governor Ron DeSantis. It also donated $313,000 to the Florida Democratic Party.
On March 11 CEO Bob Chapek announced the company would pause political donations in Florida after the bill had passed, writing in a letter to Disney employees, “We are hard at work creating a new framework for our political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values.”
But White told KNX News he doesn't believe it.
“The short of it is that (Disney) have not acted to cease political donations to those who contributed and written the bill," he said.
Meanwhile, many of the company’s affiliates publicly announced they were against the bill.
Marvel wrote on Instagram that it, “strongly denounce any and all legislation that infringes on the basic human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Disney Parks also weighed in, writing, “We oppose any legislation that infringers on basic human rights, and stand in solidarity and support our LGBTQIA+ Cast, Crew and Imagineers and fans who make their voices heard today and every day…”
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