LGBTQ Disney employees say they’ll protest the company’s response to the controversial Florida bill known nationally as ‘Don’t Say Gay.’At first, Disney’s CEO said the company would not take a side.But that changed after people applied a little pressure. Still that anger hasn’t gone away.Disney cast members planned walkouts on Tuesday at worksites in California, Florida and elsewhere.LGBTQ workers and supporters will be on Hotel Plaza Boulevard at Walt Disney World protesting the controversial Parental Rights in Education bill, also dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.Protestors plan to hold Disney accountable too.Nicholas, who did not want to reveal his last name, is a cast member who’s off on Tuesday and will participate in the walkout. “This is where we stand and we demand. The hashtag is on my Zoom background: #DisneyDoBetter. They need to continue to do better for all of us,” Nicholas said.Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek says he now stands fully against the bill and any future anti-LGBTQ legislation, however he was silent at first.”But what we’re looking for is insurance and what we’re looking from him is that he is going to have our backs down the line down the road,” Nicholas added.Dr. Duncan Dickson is a retired professor of theme park management at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management of UCF.Will these walkouts have any effect on tourism or any economic impact now or in the future?“I doubt it. The number of people that will walk out, I think is minimal. It will get more press than actual interest,” Dickson said.”We want action and not just continued lip service of them saying, ‘we love you, we stand with you,’” Nicholas said.Nicholas also wants Disney to halt future donations to any candidate or campaign that stands against the LGBTQ community.”I don’t know any candidates that are standing against the community. I mean that’s not a smart stance anyway,” Dickson said.“This is a human rights issue,” Nicholas said.A spokesperson for Walt Disney World said “this morning we held a virtual company-wide conversation on LGBTQ+ legislation and Disney’s response to it. We know how important this issue is for our LGBTQ+ employees, their families and allies, we respect our colleagues’ right to express their views, and we pledge our ongoing support of the LGBTQ+ community in the fight for equal rights.”
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. —
LGBTQ Disney employees say they’ll protest the company’s response to the controversial Florida bill known nationally as ‘Don’t Say Gay.’
At first, Disney’s CEO said the company would not take a side.
But that changed after people applied a little pressure. Still that anger hasn’t gone away.
Disney cast members planned walkouts on Tuesday at worksites in California, Florida and elsewhere.
LGBTQ workers and supporters will be on Hotel Plaza Boulevard at Walt Disney World protesting the controversial Parental Rights in Education bill, also dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.
Protestors plan to hold Disney accountable too.
Nicholas, who did not want to reveal his last name, is a cast member who’s off on Tuesday and will participate in the walkout.
“This is where we stand and we demand. The hashtag is on my Zoom background: #DisneyDoBetter. They need to continue to do better for all of us,” Nicholas said.
Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek says he now stands fully against the bill and any future anti-LGBTQ legislation, however he was silent at first.
“But what we’re looking for is insurance and what we’re looking from him is that he is going to have our backs down the line down the road,” Nicholas added.
Dr. Duncan Dickson is a retired professor of theme park management at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management of UCF.
Will these walkouts have any effect on tourism or any economic impact now or in the future?
“I doubt it. The number of people that will walk out, I think is minimal. It will get more press than actual interest,” Dickson said.
“We want action and not just continued lip service of them saying, ‘we love you, we stand with you,’” Nicholas said.
Nicholas also wants Disney to halt future donations to any candidate or campaign that stands against the LGBTQ community.
“I don’t know any candidates that are standing against the community. I mean that’s not a smart stance anyway,” Dickson said.
“This is a human rights issue,” Nicholas said.
A spokesperson for Walt Disney World said “this morning we held a virtual company-wide conversation on LGBTQ+ legislation and Disney’s response to it. We know how important this issue is for our LGBTQ+ employees, their families and allies, we respect our colleagues’ right to express their views, and we pledge our ongoing support of the LGBTQ+ community in the fight for equal rights.”