Florida GOP members of Congress lashed out at Disney for opposing the Republican-led “Parental Rights in Education” bill. They also signaled that they may boycott the Orlando vacation spot for their political activism.
Many Republicans lawmakers have said that Disney is too “woke” to oppose legislation that prohibits instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grades. The bill has been dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics.
“Corporate America thinks they can play God with morality, sexuality, and other world realities. And if they don’t like their interpretation, you are guilty or some form of hate speech,” Brian Mast, a Florida Republican Representative, told Fox News Digital.
Mast compared Disney’s opposition to the bill’s passage to Coca-Cola’s and Major League Baseball’s moves to move the All-Star games out of Georgia last season to protest the state’s voting law and to Twitter’s attempts to silence conservative voices. According to Mast, conservatives do better than liberals in avoiding companies trying to cancel their views and Walt Disney World in Florida might be at risk of losing tourism.
Mast stated that there is a conviction to boycott companies trying to cancel you on conservative sides.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek eventually came under pressure from LGBTQ activists as well as progressive employees, some of whom have walked out of their jobs in protest. He criticized Florida’s legislation and he apologized to the employees.
Chapek stated in March that “You required me to be stronger ally in fighting for equal rights, and I let you down.” 11. “I am sorry.”
Disney employees marched out to demand LGBTQ support. However, conservative employees wrote an anonymous open letter complaining that the company is becoming an “increasingly difficult place to work” for employees who aren’t explicitly progressive. They described an environment of fear for right-leaning workers and were called “villains.”
“Disney has made their family-friendly business into an activist machine that propagates a whole agenda for left-wing propaganda,” stated Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla). “What they’re doing, however, is incredibly dangerous because their company is primarily marketed towards children and families.”
Steube said: “Even their workers have noted that Disney doesn’t allow for religious or conservatives. When choosing where to spend hard-earned vacation money, I hope people remember this.
Rep. Mike Waltz (Republican from Florida) stated that “these corporations must stay out of politics.”
He described it as “hypocritical” and “disgusting” that Coca-Cola and Disney call out Georgia and Florida, while continuing to do business with China, despite human rights violations and government censorship.
Waltz stated that they would submit to an authoritarian regime with zero diversity and is actually committing genocide against ethnic minority peoples. They’ll do anything to maintain that business, but they still want to promote social justice at home. It’s truly hypocritical and disgusting.”
Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill prohibits school employees and third parties from teaching in classrooms about “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in kindergarten to third grade.
The bill passed both the Senate and House, and is now waiting for the Florida governor’s signature. Democrats have dubbed Ron DeSantis the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, claiming it bans all discussion about homosexuality in Florida’s schools. The bill has been called “hateful” by President Biden.
DeSantis and his backers insist that the bill does not prohibit anyone from saying homosexuality, rather it is about age-appropriate education in schools on gender and sexual orientation.
“For years, children in Florida have been taught the teachings about gender identity and sexual fluidity,” stated Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla). “If you believe schools should be imposing such teachings on elementary-aged children then you are the controversial one, not me.”
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (Republican from Florida) said that Disney is becoming increasingly out of touch Florida values if it believes it appropriate for the state teach topics of sexual orientation to children aged 5, 6 and 7.
Gimenez stated that Florida is standing up for its parents and families to Fox News Digital. “Maybe it is time for Disney to rediscover their core values and stop trying to appease those who are not woke.”
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) said that she is not concerned about Disney’s position affecting tourism in Florida more generally.
