Disney Heir Speaks Up About Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law

Disney has come under fire recently for its initial lack of response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law and the lack of LGBTQ representation in its media. As the conversations continue around the media giant and their connection to the new law, Charlee Corra Disney, an heir to the Disney fortune who is also transgender, is speaking up.

Charlee first began speaking out publicly after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis targeted Disney, after the company finally took a stand against the law. Charlee teaches high school biology and environmental science, and they’re also the great-grandchild of Walt Disney. Now, they’re using their voice to speak out against the law, though they admit that they often don’t know how to contribute to actionable change.

“I feel like I don’t do very much to help,” they tell the LA Times. “I don’t call senators or take action. I felt like I could be doing more.”

Their mother Sheri says that, when Charlee was as young as 2 and 3 years old, they didn’t want to go to the girls’ section in stores, saying, “But mom, I’m a boy on the inside.” Charlee identified as gay for years before coming out as trans in their mid-20s.

“I had very few openly gay role models,” Charlee says. “And I certainly didn’t have any trans or nonbinary role models. I didn’t see myself reflected in anyone, and that made me feel like there was something wrong with me.”

The law bans teachers from discussing topics about gender identity and sexual orientation in elementary school grade levels. The law requires these conversations be “developmentally appropriate” for older grades, though it doesn’t indicate what exactly that means. The law also allows parents of students to sue school districts if they feel the law has been violated, rather than explicitly outlining standards for teaching.

Many opponents have said the law will stifle any and all discussion of LGBTQ people, ultimately leaving queer kids in these schools feeling an increased isolation from their cisgender, heterosexual peers.

Charlee similarly addresses the already-higher rates of depression, anxiety, bullying, and suicide that LGBTQ face, with or without this legislation.

“Then to put something like this law on top of that?” they say. “They can’t learn about their community and their history at school, or play sports, or use the bathroom they want to use?”