Disney Faces Backlash for Declining To Condemn “Don’t Say Gay” Bill

Disney workers are speaking out against the company’s response to the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which suggests that instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity is not “age-appropriate.”

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 06: Revellers carry a Disney logo during the Pride in London parade on 06 July, 2019 in London, England.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 06: Revellers carry a Disney logo during the Pride in London parade on 06 July, 2019 in London, England.

Disney theme park employees and television writers are speaking out against the company after it was revealed that it reportedly donated large sums of money to politicians who backed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which suggests classroom instruction on topics such as gender orientation and sexual orientation is not “age-appropriate.:”

The Florida Senate passed the unpopular bill on Tuesday by five votes, according to NBC.

The bill previously forced teachers in Florida to inform parents about their children’s sexual orientation, however that amendment was thrown out and replaced by a provision that bans “classroom instruction” on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarden through third grade.

It also claims that classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity is not “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”

In turn, a litany of actors, writers, and Disney theme park workers have expressed their disdain for Disney’s stance.

Dana Terrace, a Disney animator, posted a video addressing the issue on Twitter, saying, “Working for this company has...made me so distraught … I hate, I hate having moral quandaries about how I feed myself and how I support my loved ones.”

In response to the significant criticism, Disney CEO Bob Chapek articulated that “the entire leadership team unequivocally stands in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and their communities,” per The Hollywood Reporter.

Over the course of two years, Disney has donated more than $200,000 to members of the Florida legislature, according to Popular Information.