AHF is calling news that embattled Disney CEO Bob Chapek finally spoke out against the hateful “Don’t Say Gay” legislation pending in Florida (FL HB1557 and SB1834) a step in the right direction, but vows to keep vigilant watch on Disney and the Florida legislation as the bill works its way toward becoming signed into law.
News broke today at Disney’s annual AGM (held virtually) when CEO Bob Chapek revealed that he reached out directly in a call to Governor Ron DeSantis to express Disney’s “… disappointment and concern that if the legislation becomes law, it could be used to target [LGBTQ+) kids and families. The governor heard our concerns. He agreed to meet with me and LGBTQ+ members of our senior team in Florida to discuss ways to address that.”
Over the past week, AHF spearheaded protests targeting Disney in Orlando and Burbank, CA with hundreds of LGBTQ+ advocates and supporters. AHF also produced a TV spot urging Disney to speak out publicly and loudly to oppose the legislation. . AHF’s 30-second spot is running on Orlando stations WOFL (FOX), WKMG (CBS), WESH (NBC) and WFTV (ABC). However, the TV spot was rejected or censored by the Disney-owned KABC-TV7 in Los Angeles.
“This is clearly a step in the right direction, and we commend Mr. Chapek for finally speaking out against Don’t Say Gay” directly to and with Governor DeSantis,” said Mike Kahane, AHF Southern Bureau Chief. “That said, it took a huge amount of public pressure to get Disney to act. We will be watching and urge Governor DeSantis to NOT sign this hateful and discriminatory legislation.”
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights organization — responded to a statement by Bob Chapek, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, at Disney’s quarterly shareholder meeting. His statement was the company’s first public statement of opposition to Florida’s House Bill 1557 or the Don’t Say Gay or Trans bill. This legislation would censor teachers from talking about LGBTQ+ issues or people, preventing all students from experiencing inclusive classrooms.
After remaining silent as the bill made its way through the Florida state legislature over the past few weeks, Chapek spoke out against pending anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and spoke up for LGBTQ+ people in Florida and across the country. In his statement, Chapek shared that Disney recently joined more than 150 other companies on a national business statement opposing anti-LGBTQ state legislation organized by HRC and Freedom for All Americans. He also pledged a significant financial donation to LGBTQ+ organizations. In response to Mr. Chapek’s statement, Joni Madison, Interim President of the Human Rights Campaign, released the following statement:
“The Human Rights Campaign will not accept this money from Disney until we see them build on their public commitment and work with LGBTQ+ advocates to ensure that dangerous proposals, like Florida’s Don’t Say Gay or Trans bill, don’t become dangerous laws, and if they do, to work to get them off the books. Businesses have had and continue to have a major impact in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, from marriage equality to the defeat of House Bill 2 in North Carolina and beyond. While Disney took a regrettable stance by choosing to stay silent amid political attacks against LGBTQ+ families in Florida — including hardworking families employed by Disney — today they took a step in the right direction. But it was merely the first step.
“HRC encourages Disney, and all employers, to continue to fight for their employees – many of whom bravely spoke out to say their CEO’s silence was unacceptable – and the LGBTQ+ community by working with us and state and local LGBTQ+ groups to ensure these dangerous anti-equality proposals that harm LGBTQ+ families and kids have no place in Florida. Every student deserves to be seen, and every student deserves an education that prepares them for health and success — regardless of who they are. This should be the beginning of Disney’s advocacy efforts rather than the end.”
Jack Petocz was suspended from Flagler Palm Coast High School in Florida yesterday after organizing a walkout in protest of Florida’s proposed “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Today, a petition asking to rescind Jack’s suspension is one of the fastest-growing petitions on Change.org.
“Principal Schwartz gave explicit permission and approval to the organizers for the walkout to happen, despite cutting our time and changing the location repeatedly,” explains Cameron Driggers, a student who started the petition. “This act of retaliation is utterly disgusting. We demand that Jack’s suspension be rescinded immediately and that he receives a personal apology from Principal Schwartz.”
Controversy around the proposed “Don’t Say Gay” bill has inspired a wave of activity on Change.org over the past few weeks. More than 30,000 have signed this petition opposing the bill, and other petitions with the same demand have gathered more than 11,000 signatures. Others have gone after the corporations that have funded the politicians who introduced the legislation, like this petition with more than 3,000 asking Walgreens to speak out against the bill.
