Disney and Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act

rdf:langString Disney and Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act

rdf:langString Since the passage of Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act, known by its critics as the Don't Say Gay Bill or Don't Say Gay Law, The Walt Disney Company has been involved in a feud with Florida governor Ron DeSantis and the state's Republican Party. While initially a donor to some of the politicians who voted in favor of the Act, after its passage, Disney has since spoken out against the bill and called for it to be repealed. The Parental Rights in Education Act's provisions prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten to grade 3 in Florida public school districts, or instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in a manner that is not "age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students" in any grade. Parents and teachers can sue a school district if they believe the policy is being violated. In late February 2022, the Orlando Sentinel reported that The Walt Disney Company had previously made campaign contributions to the bill's sponsors. On March 7, 2022, Disney CEO Bob Chapek declared that the company would not take a public stance on the bill and would instead focus on effecting change through the commercial content it produces. However, many individuals associated with Disney spoke out against its stance. Some Pixar employees revealed that, despite Chapek's statement, Disney had previously removed references to LGBT themes from the studio's films. Following the controversy, Disney reinstated a same-sex kiss in Pixar's 2022 film Lightyear, hosted a town hall meeting to discuss the bill's impact on company employees and their families, and promised to challenge the bill.