The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek has been criticized recently due to his response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill.
After Chapek sent a company-wide memo addressing the bill, his response was widely criticized, and he later apologized. Today it was reported that Disney employees are planning to protest the Walt Disney Company’s actions with walkouts, and here’s what we know.
As reported by Variety, a group of Disney employees (also called Cast Members) have organized walkouts following CEO Bob Chapek’s and the Walt Disney Company’s responses to the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill in Florida.
As a recap, the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill will not allow classrooms of children from kindergarten to third grade to participate in discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in the state of Florida. This bill has passed in Florida’s House of Representatives and the Florida Senate, and it goes to Governor Ron DeSantis next.
Variety wrote that a Twitter account called @DisneyWalkout has posted an open letter to the Walt Disney Company, written in partnership with various Disney-owned subsidiary employees. The letter outlines what they would like to see changed, including asking the company to stop all donations to sponsors and co-sponsors of the bill.
The Twitter account announced scheduled walkouts beginning on March 15th through March 21st, planned during 15-minute break periods from 3PM to 3:15PM. A “full-scale walkout” is planned for March 22nd which is the same date that the company has scheduled their “Reimagine Tomorrow” conversation that will discuss “issues of concern to our LGBTQ+ colleagues.”
Variety notes that the walkout organizers explain how employees are protected during break walkouts, but the full-scale walkout is not legally protected. Disney has not commented on the plans for employee walkouts at this time.
UPDATE: President of Unite Here Local 362 (which is a union that represents several food service, hotel, and other workers in Disney World) Eric Clinton told Yahoo Finance that “Boycotting the company could end up harming the LGBTQ+ workers people are fighting to protect.” He added that the union is seeking out other ways to support the LGBTQ+ workforce at Disney including “advocating for Disney to take greater action against the legislation.” The union is not associated with the group organizing the walkouts.
We’ll be watching this developing situation closely, so keep following AllEars for more Disney news and updates.
Read a timeline of Disney’s response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill here.
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I wouldn’t show disrespect to my employer by walking out on the job. I would fully and rightfully expect to be fired if I did so. So I wish them luck.
Maybe all of those who are so upset should actually read the bill instead of repeating the talking points of the organizations that are opposed to the bill and referring to it improperly.
If Disney employees choose to walk out, that is their decision and they will have to live with any repercussions. For some reason they seem to think they have the right to demand that their employer take political actions to their liking. Many are tired of that way of thinking regardless of the issue.
They have my full support. The more noise made about this, the better. If you actually read this vague and poorly worded bill, then you know that this is not just about “Don’t Say Gay.” It’s about not discussing sexual orientation, period. Therefore, if DeSantis has his way, a third-grader in Florida won’t be able to talk about her experience attending a wedding between a man and a woman when it’s her turn to share during “What I Did Over My Summer Vacation” because heterosexuality is a sexual orientation. Is that the world you want to live in?!
Does every single thing said or not said in this world now have to result in a protest? It must be exhausting be that righteous all the time. You might not like my views, I might not like yours, but that doesn’t mean we need to be making posters and taking to social media every time!
IMO, Mr. Chapek’s lukewarm reaction to this bill may have been the last straw for some castmembers. Employees need to feel respected & valued. Unfortunately, changes under Mr. Chapek’s leadership have shown neither. The WDW company has lost it’s way.
Not gonna win any friends with this one but, do we really want schools talking about any kind of sex no matter the preference with kindergarten kids?
Agreed, talking about sex, no. But the bill is not about sex, but rather, sexual orientation. So no mention could be made of a child having two mommies, or an uncle with a husband, for example.
With all due respect, I think you’re missing the unintended consequences of this law. While I agree that kindergarten students are not concerned with the mechanics of sex, they are aware of society. They do ask questions. IMO, teachers should be free to give mater-of-fact answers. Making any subject taboo, implies shame. Shame for the subject and the child. It could prevent an abused student from confiding in his/her teacher. This law is an overreaction that will harm the students it is claiming to protect.
I agree! Puberty isn’t even taught until 4th or 5th grade!