Disney Comments as Florida's "Don't Say Gay" Bill is Signed into Law

Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill has prompted a number of responses from the Disney Company itself, Disney’s CEO (Bob Chapek), former Disney officials, and more, and we’ve been sharing all of those details and updates with you.

Most recently, we shared videos of the Disney employee walkouts that were held at select locations in relation to Disney’s response to the Bill. But, now more developments have taken place when it comes to this Bill and Disney’s responses to it.

According to ABC News, Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, has officially signed the Parental Rights in Education bill (what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill) into law. ABC News shares that the bill is expected to go into effect on July 1st.

ABC News notes that under the bill (now law), “classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade” is banned. Additionally, as NBC News shares, “It also prohibits such teaching ‘in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students,’ which critics say could be interpreted to extend to all grade levels.”

Following the signing of the Bill into law, Disney issued a statement. It was shared via Twitter and also posted on the Company’s website. In the Statement, Disney says that “Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law.”

Disney then shares that their goal “as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts. They also note that they “remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that.”

At the end of the statement, Disney says that they are “dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country.”

See their statement, as shared via Twitter, below.

Statement from The Walt Disney Company on signing of Florida legislation: pic.twitter.com/UVI7Ko3aKS

— Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) March 28, 2022

We will keep watching for more updates from Florida, other states, and Disney regarding this Bill (now law) and others like it that have been proposed. Check back with us for more Disney news.