NEWS: Florida Governor Responds to Disney's Statement on Passage of "Don't Say Gay" Bill

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

©Disney

In response to the bill being signed into law, the Walt Disney Company quickly released a statement.

In their statement, the Walt Disney Company shared the following:

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

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

The statement came after an eventful month for the Walt Disney Company in regard to the Florida bill. In early March, Disney came under public pressure to respond to the bill after reports that the Company had donated to various Florida politicians supporting it (Orlando Sentinel). Eventually CEO Bob Chapek responded, sharing:

“We understand how important this issue is to our LGBTQ+ employees and many others. For nearly a century, Disney has been a unifying force that brings people together. We are determined that it remains a place where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The biggest impact we can have in creating a more inclusive world is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create here and the diverse community organizations we support, including those representing the LGBTQ+ community.”

This response was met with further criticism, leading to Disney taking a stronger stance on the issue following both external and internal pressure, including employee walkouts.

In a press conference, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took aim at the Walt Disney Company condemning the bill. According to Newsweek, DeSantis told reporters at the press conference, “For Disney to come out and put a statement and say that the bill should have never passed and that they are going to actively work to repeal it, I think one was fundamentally dishonest, but two, I think that crossed the line.”

Ron DeSantis During a Press Conference in 2020

We will continue to watch for more updates from Florida, other states, and Disney regarding this Bill (now law). Check back with us for more Disney news.