Controversy over the “Don’t say gay” law
Disney is committed to trans people – and therefore loses a special right in Florida
Mickey Mouse waves to visitors at Walt Disney World in Florida. The group was stripped of its right to self-government by the state.
© Ted Shaffrey/ / Picture Alliance
The enactment of a law banning sexual orientation teaching in Florida elementary schools sparks a violent dispute with one of the area’s largest employers. The Disney group takes action against the law, governor Ron DeSantis reacts immediately and withdraws a special right from the group.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District in central Florida looks like many other regions in the Sunshine State. Located not far from the city of Orlando, the district, which covers around 95 square kilometers, has a special feature: it is under the self-government of Walt Disney. Florida’s legislature created the district in 1967 to make it easier for Walt Disney to set up a theme park. Since then, not only has “Walt Disney World” emerged there with hotels, restaurants and rides on Disney themes, the group also takes care of collecting taxes and also taking care of the basic needs of the citizens, such as garbage disposal or construction and maintenance of roads. Because Disney itself appoints the supervisors, who act as district government, the corporation effectively governs the entire Reedy Creek Improvement District. The company benefits from tax breaks and does not need building permits for new attractions in the amusement park.
But that won’t be for much longer, because Republican governor Ron DeSantis is a thorn in the side of the company’s liberal stance. Last week, Florida legislature enacted legislation stripping Disney of special administrative powers at record speed, and DeSantis signed the law into law on Friday — three days after he asked the legislature to pass the same bill.
Law sparks row between Disney and Ron DeSantis
Another law in Florida was the trigger for the dispute between the Republican and the media group. At the end of March, DeSantis, who is considered a possible Republican presidential candidate for 2024, signed the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law. This prohibits talking about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergartens or elementary schools. The law is part of Republican efforts to enforce their conservative stance on sociopolitical issues. Ultimately, however, critics see this as a blow to the LGBTQ community.
After a lot of time to think about it, the Disney group also joined the criticism. Many of the 80,000 employees in Florida – Walt Disney is one of the largest employers in the state – were incensed about the law. Only after increasing internal pressure did Disney boss Bob Chapek speak out against it. “We were against the law from the start and were hoping to do more behind the scenes,” Chapek said in March. He himself called DeSantis, expressed his disappointment with the law and set up a meeting with him and representatives of the LBTQ community at Disney. At the same time, Chapek pledged donations of five million euros to various LGBTQ organizations.
DeSantis reacted immediately and declared war on Disney. “In Florida, the guidelines should be for residents and not for some ‘woken’ company,” DeSantis said at an appearance in Florida. “Woke” is now colloquially used as a synonym for attention to minorities and discrimination. The focus is on racism, sexism and sexual discrimination. DeSantis accused Disney of patronizing Florida parents. A statement that brought Chapek back onto the scene. “It’s obvious that this isn’t just about Florida law, it’s about basic human rights,” Chapek said.
Disney family member comes out
DeSantis, however, continued to be belligerent. DeSantis accused Disney of trying to bring California values to Florida, where many people would support the law. “They don’t run this state and they won’t run it as long as I’m governor,” DeSantis said full-bodiedly on a talk show on Tucker Carlson. The governor suggested Disney use the money to renovate Orlando’s streets rather than support the lawsuit against the law, a suggestion Disney promptly rejected. Because in addition to the company, the descendants of Walt Disney are also committed to the LGBTQ community. Charlee Corra, great-granddaughter of the company’s founder, is openly trans and donated $500,000 to a human rights organization with her family. Many trans people suffer from depression and anxiety as children, Corra explained in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “Then put a law like that on them? They don’t learn anything, more about their community and their history at school, aren’t allowed to do any sports and aren’t even allowed to use the toilet that they would like to use.”
Just three days after DeSantis signed the law into law in late March, Republican lawmakers first floated the idea of removing special administration from Disney. However, this is not done out of revenge for the group’s attitude, but because the special administrative law is a thorn in its side. After Easter, DeSantis signed the law into law. On June 1, 2023, Disney’s special status is to be revoked, and this poses major problems for the neighboring districts in particular. Because if you are included in this, the residents will face tax increases. Disney invested approximately $160 million annually in public management of Reedy Creek. At the same time, Disney also has a mountain of debt of around $1 billion in obligations that could also be passed on to neighboring communities. A tax expert on US television estimated that the property tax could rise by 20 to 25 percent.
For DeSantis, all of that will be secondary. The 43-year-old is eyeing the presidency and is already a tough guy in Florida. Until a possible candidacy as president, however, there is another choice on the list: In autumn there will be elections in Florida, DeSantis wants to remain governor in the sunshine state. It remains to be seen whether an argument on the backs of the children will help him.
Sources: Washington Post, LA Times, New York Times, daily News