LGBTQIA+ Disney workers are planning walkouts over the company’s handling of Florida‘s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Several members who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community took to Twitter announcing its plans to stand up against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
“The LGBTQIA+ workers and allies at The Walt Disney Company are standing in solidarity together over the coming weeks,” wrote employees on Monday from a Twitter account named Disney Walkout.
“The recent statements by The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) leadership regarding the Florida legislature’s recent ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation,” organizers wrote. “Primarily, those statements have indicated that leadership still does not truly understand the impact this legislation is having not only on cast members in the state of Florida, but on all members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the company and beyond. While we certainly appreciate Bob Chapek’s apology note, there is still more work to be done.”
The letter was put together by LGBTQIA+ members in all sectors of The Walt Disney Company, including Pixar, Disney Television Animation, Pixar, Disney Streaming and more. Managers of the Twitter account also detailed dates for walkouts, which will start on March 15.
The employees’ move comes after Disney chief executive Bob Chapek apologized for Disney’s silence on the matter and has since cut off political donations to Florida. “We strongly denounce any and ALL legislation that infringes on the basic human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Marvel Studios stands for hope, inclusivity and strength; and we proudly stand with the community,” read a statement from Marvel Studios.
USA Today reports the bill seeks to discourage “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in primary schools “or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.” Advocates of the bill say the legislation would give more power over the content their children learn. If the bill becomes law, parents would be able to sue the schools over said discussion topics being taught to their children. DeSantis is in favor of the bill, reports USA Today.
