Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill (what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill) has prompted a number of responses from Disney, former Disney executives, and others.
Pride wall in Disney Springs
Most recently, the Bill was passed into law and Disney issued a statement in response, indicating that the Bill should never have been passed or signed into law and that its goal would be for the law to be repealed or struck down. Disney has also said that they are creating a task force to develop strategies to be a more positive force for the LGBT community, and “new content for children and family” will be a large part of the focus of this task force. Recently, protests were held in front of Disney’s corporate headquarters in response to some of Disney’s recent statements and actions.
According to Newsweek, a video has been circulating on social media showing “hundreds of protestors” gathered outside of the Disney headquarters in California.
Protestors in the video can be seen holding various signs as part of their protest and can be heard shouting “boycott Disney.” Fox 11 also shared a video from the protests.
©Fox 11 Los Angeles
Newsweek shares that the protest was organized by a Christian activist group called “Hold the Line.” The Hold the Line website describes the group as a “political activist movement” with the goal of engaging “with the church and with millennials in a way that charges them to become more politically active.”
A post and video was shared on Twitter directly from Sean Feucht, Christian activist and founder of “Hold the Line,” calling for the protest.
Disney Pride Pins
Another video was circulated online, which also called for the protest. The video shows news hosts discussing certain LQBGT+ topics and decisions to include more LGBTQ+ characters in Disney media, and shows other images of Disney. It then cuts to protestors and calls for parents to “take a stand” for the innocence of their children. (Newsweek)
According to FOX 11 News Los Angeles, “The protest was tied to Disney’s response to Florida’s Parental Right’s Education Bill which is also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill by its critics.”
On the day of the protest, FOX 11 News Los Angeles says that “The group brought in a mobile stage and speakers on a truck parked in front of the main studio gate for two hours.” According to Newsweek, other videos were shared showing the individuals in attendance, including one featuring a woman claiming to be a Disney Cast Member who said it has “gotten very hard to be someone who has conservative values.”
Rainbow Mickey
FOX 11 News Los Angeles also notes that most of Disney’s staff had already left before the protests began or were working remotely, but “some studio traffic appeared to be rerouted to another exit away from the demonstration.”
Newsweek contacted Disney and Hold the Line for comment, but no comment was shared in the Newsweek post as of yet.
To see more about the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and other updates that had been previously shared about this topic, click the links below:
- Disney issues statement as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill is signed into law.
- Disney issues statement on “Don’t Say Gay” bill (now law)
- Disney CEO Bob Chapek comments on the Bill (now law)
- Chapek comments on the Company’s stance on the Bill (now law) and actions moving forward
- Chapek issues apology following Disney’s response to Bill (now law)
- Human Rights Campaign rejects Disney’s donation and issues response
- Disney employees plan walkouts in response to Bill (now law)
- California governor addresses Disney following responses to the Bill (now law)
- Same-sex kiss put back into “Lightyear” after criticism of Disney’s response to the Bill (now law)
- Chapek addresses the Florida Bill (now law) and assures further changes during Company meeting
- Supportive LGBTQIA+ statements shared by Disney ahead of planned walkouts
- Learn more about the walkouts
- See more about Disney’s response to the passage of the bill into Law
- See the Florida Governor’s comments about Disney’s response
We’ll continue to look for more updates on this story.
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I doubt it will change anything but it’s nice to know people are taking a stand against Disney’s peculiar attitude. You know, Disney, there’s an expression…”don’t bite the hand that feeds you”…ever heard of it?
Amen. I back a boycott completely until Disney keeps their noses out of politics and mind their own business as to how we raise our children. Remember Disney “ Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”. I won’t be going back and I go to WDW at least 6 times a year and more. I am not renewing my AP nor am I purchasing anything Disney When they come out of their coma and get back to basic Disney then more and more people will return. This is utter brainwashing.
Disney better stay out of politics or it will destroy its reputation and business. Disney’s bread and butter…The average American family will not stand for this.
Why are they holding a sign that says “defund Disney?” Do they actually think Disney is publicly funded by taxpayers? Disney is private company that generates their own monies. Talk about being clueless.
The hypocrisy is that these are probably the same people who criticized the people spoke up and the employees who walked out in protest against the bill.
Why is Disney not allowed to have an opinion? Whatever happened to free speech? I support them more than ever.