Some Disney workers plan walkout over company's response to Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill
Several Disney divisions released statements expressing solidarity with their LGBTQ employees on the same day that walkouts were purportedly planned nationwide to protest the company's response to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill.
Disney Parks posted a message to social media Tuesday morning in solidarity with its LGBTQ employees. It read in part:
"We oppose any legislation that infringes on basic human rights, and stand in solidarity and support our LGBTQIA+ cast, crew, and Imagineers and fans who make their voices heard today and every day."
Hulu, Disney+ and National Geographic posted similar messages.
Workers participating in the walkout planned to meet up with each other at locations in Orlando, New York City, Anaheim and Burbank where the company is headquartered.
The company finds itself in a balancing act between the expectations of a diverse workforce and demands from an increasingly polarized, politicized marketplace.
On one side are LGBTQ advocates and Disney employees calling for a walkout in protest of CEO Bob Chapek's slow response in publicly criticizing Florida legislation that opponents dubbed as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The legislation awaiting the governor's signature bars instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.
On the other are politicians like Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who accuse the entertainment conglomerate of bending to cancel culture after a Disney decision to temporarily suspend political contributions in the state. According to Disney's conservative critics, the company should be in the business of making profits, not pushing an agenda.
It was unclear how many employees would walk out or what might happen to those who do. Union leaders for the tens of thousands of unionized workers at Disney theme parks in Florida and California said they saw no momentum among their members for a walkout, and advised them not to do so because it would defy contractual obligations. Organizers said they expected some participation from production, marketing, IT and other non-unionized jobs.
One of the organizers of the walkout, a New York-based employee, said they were expecting participation by workers with the "privilege" to be able to protest to stand up for those who can't, the employee said. The worker spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted online and because organizers didn't want a single organizer taking the spotlight.
"Queer employees have been pushing for years to make this company better -- it shouldn't have taken all this for us to get the attention of people up the food chain. Our voices mattered before all this," organizers tweeted Tuesday.
A Disney spokesman didn't respond to an email seeking comment. Disney employed 190,000 workers as of last October, with roughly three-quarters working in its theme parks division.
Disney, whose movies and properties shaped generations of children around the world, has spoken out several times in recent years about contentious social and political situations.
It was one of a slew of U.S. companies that in January 2021 said it would suspend political donations to lawmakers who voted against certifying President Joe Biden's electoral victory. It also spoke out early against a 2016 anti-gay bill in Georgia, threatening to pull its business from the state, which has become a favorite of movie and TV studios. The bill was vetoed by Georgia's then-governor.
And the company has not been immune to changing societal expectations. It has said it would revamp the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain rides at its theme parks to remove racist and sexist elements and put short warnings in front of some of its classic movies on its streaming service, Disney+, alerting viewers to "outdated cultural depictions."
This time, Chapek, who became CEO in 2020, has drawn fire for speaking out about the gender identity bill only after it passed the Florida Legislature.
Republican lawmakers pushing the Florida legislation had argued that parents, not teachers, should be the ones talking to their children about gender issues during their early formative years.
The legislation attracted scrutiny from Biden, who called it "hateful," as well as other Democrats who argue it demonizes LGBTQ people. It has been sent to DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law.
Chapek apologized earlier this month for not coming out more forcefully and publicly against the bill, saying Disney officials had been working behind the scenes to stop it. Chapek also announced a pause to all political donations in Florida and more support for advocacy groups fighting similar legislation in other states. Chapek reiterated those points during a company-wide discussion with employees on Monday.