Disney CEO Speaks Out About ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

Disney CEO Bob Chapek apologized for his silence over the “Don’t Say Gay” bill last week at the Annual Shareholders Meeting and contacted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to further discuss his concerns.

Chapek says that he called Governor DeSantis “to express our disappointments and concerns that, if the legislation becomes law, it could be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, nonbinary, and transgender kids and families.” He says that DeSantis has agreed to meet with him and other Disney LGBTQ employees to hear their concerns.  

The Parental Rights in Education, renamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents, prohibits discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels. Florida’s House and Senate passed the bill, and it is now heading to DeSantis’ desk. 

Chapek explains that Disney leaders were opposed to the bill “but we choose not to take a public position on it because we thought we could be more effective working behind-the-scenes.” 

Chapek also announced that the company will donate toward LGBTQ organizations, including a $5 million donation to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). For HRC, it is not enough: In a press release, the organization states that they will not take any money from Disney until they take “meaningful action.” 

“The Humans Rights Campaign will not accept this money from Disney until we see them build on their public commitment and work with LGBTQ+ advocates to ensure that dangerous proposals, like Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay or Trans’ bill, don’t become dangerous laws, and if they do, to working to get them off the books,” HRC’s Interim President Joni Madison says.

“While Disney took a regrettable stance by choosing to stay silent amid political attacks against LGBTQ+ families in Florida—including hardworking families employed by Disney—today, they took a step in the right direction. But it was merely the first step,” Madison adds.

Now, Disney employees are planning walkouts during their breaks in response to Chapek’s slow response in publicly criticizing Florida legislation against the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. 

It is said that the protests, both virtual and in-person, by LGBTQ workers and their supporters at Disney worksites in California will start this week and will culminate next Tuesday. 

A number of employees created a website where they published an open letter expressing their appreciation for Chapek’s apology. “We are glad to see that we agree with Mr. Chapek on this—it is about human rights and not political affiliation.”  

“Cast members’ identities are not ‘political issues;’ our safety and well-being is (sic) crucial to the success of this company, no cast member or their families should be forced to live in fear, and it is unacceptable to use the profits of our labor to take our human rights away,” the letter adds.