Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill has flooded headlines recently, particularly as it relates to Disney’s response to the situation.
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Disney issued an initial response, which was then followed by a memo from Disney CEO Bob Chapek. That was then followed by statements from Chapek during the shareholder meeting, an apology from Chapek, and further comments. We previously shared that some Disney employees had been planning walkouts for today, March 22nd, and we shared an updated look at those walkouts this morning. Now, we’ve got photos, videos, and more information of what took place.
The Bill at issue is Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, or what critics have termed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. According to the Wall Street Journal, the “Florida bill prohibits instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten to third grade and in later grades if not ‘age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.'”
To see more about this Bill, what proponents and critics say, and more details about responses from Disney, Disney leaders, and others — click here
As planned, some Disney employees did ultimately participate in the walkouts today. Steve Desaulniers, a field producer at CNBC, posted a video on Twitter of “hundreds of Disney employees” walking out from the Company’s headquarters in Burbank, California.
Hundreds of Disney employees walking out at company HQ in Burbank #DisneyWalkout pic.twitter.com/n9QpNmAHIf
— Steve Desaulniers (@steve_desaul) March 22, 2022
Ryan Faughnder, a film business reporter for the Los Angeles Times, also posted some updates on Twitter about Disney employee walkouts. In one post, Faughnder noted that there were people gathered outside of the Disney Animation building in Burbank, California in protest of Disney’s handling of the situation surrounding the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Faughnder shared an image of a Mickey Mouse Pride Plush that some were carrying with the sign “I’m walking out too.”
“We don’t talk about Bruno. We do talk about LGBTQ rights” pic.twitter.com/QUVqZw1h3x
— Ryan Faughnder (@RFaughnder) March 22, 2022
In another post on Twitter, Faughnder shared images of the walkouts, with individuals standing before the large “The Walt Disney Co.” entrance.
©Ryan Faughnder via Twitter (@RFaughnder)
Disney Animator Rebecca Perez also shared a post to her Twitter about the walkouts at Disney Animation Studios. In the post, she noted that it was a full day Disney walkout and that they were supporting their fellow Florida co-workers and LGBTQIA+ community.
Based on another post on her Twitter, it appears a 15-minute walkout also took place a few days ago.
Disney Animation Studios employees full day #DisneyWalkout #DisneyDoBetter #DisneySayGay Supporting our fellow Florida co-workers and LGBTQIA+ community. Solidarity. 🌈♥️✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/zwKZisJtUr
— Rebecca Perez (@reblynk) March 22, 2022
Over on the east coast, Amanda Dukes, a reporter at WESH TV, shared a photo of a protestor outside Disney at Hotel Plaza Blvd.
A lone protestor stands outside Disney at Hotel Plaza Blvd. Employee were planning a staged walk out today to protest what critics call Florida’s Don’t say Gay bill pic.twitter.com/QP7dlzbcgV
— Amanda Dukes (@AmandaDukesWESH) March 22, 2022
Reggie Aqui, an ABC7 News Anchor, shared that he chose to stay, rather than participate directly in the walkouts, in part, to “amplify [the] message.” In his message, Aqui shared that today is an opportunity for Disney to say “gay.” Aqui said that when they didn’t feel like the Company was adequately supporting them (referring to the LGBTQ+ community), they were shocked. Aqui said that this is the reaction to this shock, and the chance for Disney to do better.
You can hear more about what Aqui had to say about the situation below.
Some ABC7 colleagues walked off the job for a day to bring awareness to anti #LGBTQ legislation around the country and to demand #Disney make meaningful change to value and protect us. I chose to stay, in part, to amplify message. Always grateful for management support, esp now. pic.twitter.com/J06jYQeSef
— Reggie Aqui He/Him (@reggieaqui) March 22, 2022
We’re continuing to watch for more updates about news of other Disney employee walkouts and will update this post with any further information. Note that the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill has been passed by the Florida legislature, and is expected to be signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Stay tuned for more news.
To see more about this situation, click the links below:
- Disney issues statement on “Don’t Say Gay” bill
- Disney CEO Bob Chapek comments on the Bill
- Chapek comments on the Company’s stance on the Bill and actions moving forward
- Chapek issues apology following Disney’s response to Bill
- Human Rights Campaign rejects Disney’s donation and issues response
- Disney employees plan walkouts in response to Bill
- California governor addresses Disney following responses to the Bill
- Same-sex kiss put back into “Lightyear” after criticism of Disney’s response to the Bill
- Chapek addresses the Florida Bill and assures further changes during Company meeting
- Supportive LGBTQIA+ statements shared by Disney ahead of planned walkouts
- Learn more about the walkouts
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You can’t keep people from using words no matter who you are and where you live. This is the biggest wast of time and taxpayer money I have ever seen. I do t know about you but I’m having a gay time today enjoying a gay day!
I support the bill as do most parents. This is sensationalist bs and I couldn’t care less what the employees think of it. This is about little kids not someone’s personal sexual orientation
Disney has no one but themselves to blame, as soon as you enter the political/social arena any statement you make is going to alienate at least half of your customer base. Disney (and all businesses) should focus on their product and customer service and stay out of politics altogether. At a time when Disney is rapidly falling out of favor with their long suffering fan base, this is probably the worse possible time to continue commenting and taking stands on controversial social issues.
IDC who you are or where you’re from. IDC if you are gay, straight, or any possible permutation thereof…
Discussions about sexuality DO NOT BELONG in elementary schools. Period.
Be proud of whoever you are.
Governor of Florida DeSantis wants to enter the presidential race. He will tell the people of his state what he thinks they want to hear in order to gain their support. Someone who has to hurt people to get what he wants does not deserve to serve this country in any capacity. In the ladder of life, you do not step on people to get to the top.
The Walt Disney Company appeals directly to the LGBTQ+ community through social media promoting both its parks and its Pride-related merchandise. It is happy to take their money for the same. It employs many members of the community. It should also be supportive of this community in both words and actions. Standing up for what is right both in words and actions is never a waste. It is important and necessary.
This bill is not anti-gay, it is pro-child and pro-parental rights. Parents are the correct people to teach sexual education to their children. It’s disturbing to see Disney’s continued defense of anti child sexual grooming laws to protect children. It would be great if corporations and businesses stuck to what they do best and stop playing sides in the political woke agenda. You are paid to provide a service, not to lecture us on political or moral agendas.
If you actually read the bill, it says nothing about gay, straight or any orientation. All it does is prevent TEACHERS for teaching sexuality (any sexuality, not limited to gay) to grades K-3. Does anyone really believe that teachers should be talking sex to kindergarteners or 3rd graders. Let kids be kids and let the parents deal with any questions. All the teacher has to say is ask mommy or daddy about that. People are NOT anti-LBGQT+, but they also don’t obsess talking about sexuality all the time… especially with little kids that don’t really understand it. There’s a reason people have parents.
Christy…no where in the bill does it say you can’t say gay….the only people who’s rights are being taken away are parents and what their kids are shown and discussed in the classroom. It should be up to the parents with what is discussed at the age that this bill is addressing. Please read the actual bill. Not the headlines.
Disney has become an incredibly far left corporation and they have driven me away as a customer. Disney should not be worried about a one day walkout by a handful of disgruntled employees. What should concern Disney and Disney stockholders is a FOREVER walkout by loyal customers like me. #DoneWithDisneyFOREVER.
I think Disney is getting to political and trying to please everyone get back to being normal and maintain your standards I’m not going to Disney for awhile tired of people fighting and all the politics
I think companies need to stay out of politics completely. If you want to protest, fine… do it on your own time.
If you walk out on your job, you should expect to have to face some sort of disciplinary action.
If people would only educate themselves prior to jumping on the latest protest ban wagon. And if those same people would really think on the actual facts. I bet 99% of all those employees have no real clue as to what the bill actually says. Most just jump on the protest wagon and ride along. They will all go back to work, protesting won’t pay their car payments, rent, electric, groceries and so on.
Maybe you guys should do a segment on Bob Chapek and Bob Iger having a fallout. Perhaps that might explain why Bob Chapek is becoming a negative figure in and around Disney.
Soooo ridiculous! If any of these people actually READ the bill, it doesn’t reference anything about not saying “gay” — it doesn’t even reference the word! It restricts TEACHING about gender identity or sexual orientation in kindergarten thru 3rd grade. It doesn’t prohibit ANYONE from saying Gay, or Lesbian, or Straight or any other word — it only restricts teachers from actively INSTRUCTING small children (under the age of 10) about it.
Honestly, whoever coined the term “don’t say gay bill” was a marketing genius — since that’s not at all what the bill actually is about or says.
Chapek stepped into it by trying to make Disney political — but I guarantee that the Disney company actively contributes & supports MANY politicians on both sides of the political aisle, because that is the business-savvy thing to do. Disney is doing BIG business in FL and CA, and the politics are VERY different in those 2 states. Disney has to be able to work with all sides in order to operate successfully in multiple areas.
Bet all those FL employees who think Disney is “not supporting” them were happy that the FL parks re-opened after only a few months instead fo being closed for a year and a half!
This bill has been so misrepresented. It does not say, don’t say gay. It says do not say it, in school, to little kids. That school is not the place to address this with little kids, home is. Disney stepped in it by getting involved in the first place. I suspect they may be sorry they are a partial Union shop.
You can have all the rights you want, Christy, but I wouldn’t want this shoved down the throats of K-3 kids. There is plenty of time to educate them on this subject. I am sure that people protesting have no young kids.
As a gay castmember I want to thank you for all of your coverage you have provided in regards to this topic.
One more reason I’m glad we canceled our Disney trip this year. It’s pathetic and very disappointing. Just everything (to be specific 🥲)
Fire those that dont show up to work.
@Christi
The word “gay” does not appear once in the FL Bill and this narrative is a complete and purposeful mis-characterization by the media. Also, it’s apparently been known that Chapek wanted to keep the company apolitical and out of hot-button issues. His cave to a small group within the company on this issue, has been staggering to watch. Since when has a former toe-the-line place of employment like Disney allowed for such rancor?
The world has gone crazy. And people aren’t actually paying attention to what the bill says. If you don’t want a teacher telling your k-3rd grade that being gay is bad, you should be FOR this bill. Same as if you don’t want a teacher teaching that being gay is good, you should be FOR this bill. See? It works for EVERYBODY. It is simply a bill that ensures that teachers are teaching what they are supposed to: math, English, science, history. No sexuality (of ANY kind) in K-3 CURRICULUM allowed. I figured that’s something we all as parents would agree on.
That being said, I think Disney should not be taking sides on ANY social or political issues and stick to making family friendly movies and parks.
If they’re not Union, I say fire them all for using Disney’s name, and face for their political personal agenda. There should be no room in corporation’s such as disney for a personal agenda to be publicized like this. It makes Disney look very bab. Look what happened to the NFL when there individuals started using the NFL as their personal advertisement for their agenda, it was not good. And this is what is going to happen to Disney if they continue to allow it.
Did anyone walk out in FL?
Companies (Disney and others) should concentrate on their business and stay the heck out of social and political issues (on either side).
So Disney employees in CA walked out and protested over a bill in Florida that does not affect them anyway? A bill that has been deliberately misnamed by “protesters” to cause confusion and outrage? Honesty, I hope each and every one of them is fired ….. not for walking out but for not bothering to read the bill and understand its sole purpose is to prevent adults from discussing sexual orientation or sexual identity with 8 year olds and younger.
Disney should take a look at how Dolly Parton handles these issues–no comment. She has opinions, but she keeps them to herself. She remembers that both sides listen to her music and purchase her products–think about it Disney.
Disneyworld used to be the magical place that a family could visit to relive innocence. My family is tired of the political stands that Disney is taking, Bob Chapek needs to lead the company, focusing on their base of parents with children and not cater to a group of disgruntled employees. The bill has been misrepresented. Why is Disney taking a stand against teachers not instructing small children about gender issues? This is an issue that is delicate should be discussed lovingly with parents and their children, not in schools. Until Disney focuses on creating the quality family experiences that are safe for parents and children, my family is vacationing elsewhere.
As an ally, I completely support the CMs who staged a walkout. Disney never should have financially supported state legislators who put forth a bill based on bias and hate. Those who say Disney needs to stay out of politics would support this as well. Disney Corporation has long employed and supported its CMs who are other than straight. They need to go back to supporting all CMs and visitors, regardless of gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
I go to Disney content and parks because I want to FORGET about politics, period! I want to see characters, take a load-off, and enjoy myself! We are becoming too fractionalized in a society meant to always have differences! Don’t politicize Disney!
Disney just needs to make movies for children to enjoy and I am talking about children ages 4 to 8 and not have to worry about having to ask questions to adults that they might not ready to explain it to someone so young. I would not of like to of done that even for my own children. They need to leave the political stuff out of Disney movies and just make great Disney movies like they do now. Love to see some old Disney movies back to the big screen.
Disney has become way too political. I prefer to stay away from there.
Reading the comments here have been hugely disheartening and unwelcoming. It’s funny how Disney is taking a “political position” the moment its employees protest discrimination against a minority. How it becomes “sexual” when two mums or two dads are depicted, but not when every other book has a mum and dad. How it becomes “sexual” if two men or two women kiss in the background, but not when the whole story is founded on the premise of a heterosexual kiss (even non-consensual ones!) being the cure to poison or a curse. How it’s “sexual” if a boy wants to play with dolls or paint his nails, but not when little girls are portrayed doing the same thing. I am deeply ashamed of the Disney fan community, but I suppose I should not be surprised given the response to Disney’s attempts to correct historic racial insensitivities.
Staff members who are gay or what ever you choose who you are the main thing is that all employees be treated with respect and dignity Treat people the way you want to be treated life is a beautiful thing
Jay, agreed 100%. I’ve been keeping up with this story for the last two weeks and the comments under it are truly ignorant, including this one. I am hopeful that these “fans” keep their promise and stay away from Disney so it becomes a much safer space for the LGBTQ community and their allies. Hopefully they are just the loud ones that they complain about, and not the majority 🙏🏽
Thank you to ALL who will now shunning Disney. Maybe the parks will be a little less crowded with your absence. I support each and every CMs.
I have read the bill and it is not as benign as those in favor believe. I would like to know what issue brought about this bill in the first place? Was there a specific incident that this law addresses? What religious organization(s) were involved with crafting this un-needed law?
Read the history of the parks. Disney like many corporations has been political since the inception of the parks.
Just wondering why my comment never made it on here 🧐 curious…
100% support the Cast Members walking out or protesting in any way.