Disney, who is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, activist, and the daughter of former Disney animation head Roy E. Disney and great-niece of Walt Disney, took to Twitter to condemn the corporation’s financial backing of the Parental Rights in Education bill, which prohibits “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in Florida primary schools. “I could not be more unhappy with their political activities, both in terms of whom they fund and how they lobby,” Disney tweeted about the Walt Disney Company’s reported political contributions. “I would strongly support a law to require all corporations to reveal ALL of their funding and lobbying moves.”
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Disney has given money to every single sponsor and co-sponsor of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which was passed by Florida’s House of Representatives February 24. Officially titled the House Bill 1557, the proposed law is heading to the state’s Republican-held Senate next. President Biden called the bill “hateful,” tweeting, “I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community — especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill — to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are. I have your back, and my Administration will continue to fight for the protections and safety you deserve.” As the Orlando Sentinel stated, the bill’s Senate sponsor, Ocala Republican Dennis Baxley, has actively backed anti-gay legislation for years, including laws that would block gay couples from adopting children. Additionally, Baxley “once compared kids who live with same-sex parents to kids raised by alcoholics and abusers and later said, ‘I’m not phobic, but I simply can’t affirm homosexuality.’” The Walt Disney Company has allegedly donated to Baxley, among other bill supporters. Orlando Democrat State Rep. Anna Eskamani said (via the Orlando Sentinel) that companies like Walt Disney’s priorities are clear: “The business lobby seems more focused on securing tax breaks…than living up to their so-called corporate values of inclusivity.” Walt Disney World is located near Orlando, Florida, and the Disney parks recently issued a fifth “key” called “Inclusion” to its Cast Member Training Worldwide. This isn’t the first time Abigail Disney has criticized how the Walt Disney Company is run. In 2019, Abigail Disney took aim at The Walt Disney Company and its then-CEO Bob Iger in a series of tweets calling out Iger’s “insane” salary. The subject and co-director (with Kathleen Hughes) of the film “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales” also addressed pay inequity in the 2022 Sundance documentary.
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