Disney employees are staging walkouts over the company's support of Florida's "don't say gay" bill. Once passed, the bill would make it illegal for teachers to discuss gender or sexual orientation, and even make them legally liable to lawsuits from angry parents.
The bill has rece𝓡ived condemnation from LGBTQ advocates and allies as essentially denying the existence of gay and trans people. This will undoubtedly result in gay and trans children facing more alienation and violence in the school system--a change that LGBTQ Disney employees are tryi𒅌ng to prevent.
Disney drew fire last week for fina🃏ncially supporting several Republican politicians backing the bill, including Governor Ron DeSantis. Disney eventually said it would as a result of its "don't say gay" bill, but so far the bill looks like it's set to become law the next time Florida's senate convenes.
LGTBQ Disney employees have become increasingly angry and Disney's response to the controversy, and have now organized for a series of walkouts this week and next. A new website, , details the group's goals and schedule of walkouts.
"The recent statements and lack of action by TWDC leadership regarding the 'don’t say gay' bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation," wrote organizers on the site. "As a community, we have been forced into an impossible and unsustainable position. We must now take action to convince TWDC to protect employees and their families in the face of such open and unapologetic bigotry."
The site confirms all week will have "coordinated work break protests," . Employees can submit their emails ❀on the site to receive updates on walkout times and protest site🌱s.
The group is demanding the immediate cessation of all donations to politicians supporting Florida's "don't say gay" bill as well as immediate action from Disney that will protect LGBTQ workers and children from further "hateful legislation." Disney hasn’t offered comment so far, but wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to convince giant mega-corporations to step up and protect gay people from awful politicians?
