The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) says it is refusing The Walt Disney Company‘s mutli-million dollar donation pledge until such time as the entertainment company takes “meaningful action” against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
HB 1557, nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, recently passed the Florida Senate in a 22-17 vote after previously passing the Florida House of Representatives in a 69-47 vote. The bill now heads to the desk of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has publicly defended the legislation. The bill decrees that Florida public school districts “may not encourage discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” among younger students (from kindergarten to third grade). It also allows parents and teachers to sue any school district they believe has violated the policy.
The bill has been met with backlash, with Florida students holding walkouts in order to protest the legislation. Numerous public figures have denounced the bill as well. Additionally, there is concern among the legal community that the bill could violate the First Amendment and potentially be unconstitutional. Among all of this, Disney — which is notably one of the biggest employers in Florida — has also faced backlash for making donations to the sponsors and co-sponsors of the bill and declining to publicly condemn the legislation.
In response to this, Disney CEO Bob Chapek issued a company-wide email, saying, “I do not want anyone to mistake a lack of a statement for a lack of support… And because this struggle is much bigger than any one bill in any one state, I believe the best way for our company to bring about lasting change is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create, and the diverse community organizations we support.”
This response was met with criticism, including from Disney employees like The Owl House creator Dana Terrace, who pointed out that Disney had no stated plans to cease donations to the politicians behind the bill, which she described as being harmful to LGBTQ+ youth. Meanwhile, Marvel Comics (a Disney subsidiary) writer Christopher Cantwell has pledged to donate his pay for the comic The United States of Captain America to The Matthew Shepard Foundation.
Then, during Disney’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Webcast, Chapek described an “encouraging” phone call in which Gov. DeSantis “committed to me that he wanted to make sure that this law could not be weaponized in any way by individuals in the state or groups in the state to unduly harm or target gay, lesbian, nonbinary or transgender kids and families.” Chapek also stated that Disney would be donating $5 million to the HRC and other LGBTQ+ charities.
This caught the attention of another Disney employee, animation writer Benjamin Siemon, who criticized the company for not coming out against the bill until after it passed. Siemon praised Disney for its $5 million pledge, though added, “[T]the most important thing to me — and, I believe, our community right now — is that you say clearly and publicly that you are going to stop giving money to all of these politicians that voted for this very hateful bill.”
Evidently, the HRC agrees with this sentiment. The organization has issued a statement in which interim president Joni Madison is quoted as saying, “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… 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.”
Madison’s statement can be read in its entirety below:
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.
Source: Human Rights Campaign
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