This bill has since been referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill but is officially known as the Parental Rights in Education bill. The bill prevents the teaching of multiple LGBTQ+ topics throughout primary schools, allowing for parents to have the right to sue educators who dare to shed a light on these issues to their students. The current outpour of backlash and criticism that Disney finds itself currently immersed in is due to the fact that the company has donated money to the sponsors of the bill. After several days of radio silence, Chapek released a public statement claiming that Disney stands with the LGBTQ+ community and will re-evaluate it’s supposed advocacy in the future - but the public and many respective Disney employees know that actions speak louder than words. Disney has faced multiple controversies and accusations over the sheer fact that their LGBTQ+ representation is several decades behind, with the company steadily claiming in response that they are advocates and supporters of the community. The ideology behind LGBTQ+ topics as being not “family friendly” or somehow immoral to their image as a children entertainment company is downright homophobic in-itself.

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As the company sits back like a statue, Disney employees are expressing their solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community - loud and proud. Multiple creators, including members of the LGBTQ+ community themselves, came forward to express their outrage and grave disappointment with Disney. Most notably, animation writer Benjamin Siemon posted a video to his Twitter directly addressing the company and demanding that they take a position strongly against the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. He stated, “I was a super, clearly awkward gay kid that was just trying to figure out who he was. Anytime you’re different in school, you’re probably prone to getting picked on, and you’re searching for answers wondering if there is something wrong with you. Luckily, I had a teacher that was really kind and talked to me about it and let me know that there wasn’t anything wrong with being gay. It made a huge impact on my life."

“If the “Don’t Say Gay” bill passes in Florida, that would have never happened to me. I would have been left alone and scared, and LGBTQ kids are going to be left alone, scared, and hurt by this bill,” Siemon continued. “When they have donated to the sponsors and cosponsors of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and they made no position against this bill, and they’re going to continue to keep donating to these politicians - they are essentially saying that this bill is okay. This bill is going to hurt kids.” After Siemon posted that statement, the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” passed in the Florida senate and is expected be signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, which prompted Siemon to post a follow-up video that, among many things, reminded Disney that LGBTQ+ people are in “a lot of pain” because of this legislation.

Siemon perfectly articulated the isolation, hatred, and complete erasure that this bill would have on not just the LGBTQ community (families, single parents, young children) but straight people as well. See, in order for this world to be more tolerable and open, there needs to be less fear and judgment. The only way for the next generation to end homophobia is if we educate them on who queer people actually are and the amazing contributions they have made throughout history to this world.

If Disney claims that they are in support of LGBTQ+ representation and yet silently give their money to politicians who want that very own community to be completely erased and never spoken of - that’s quite the glaring contradiction. Chapek didn’t outright criticize or stand against the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” - instead, he directed the attention of the public towards the past contributions that Disney has made for the LGBTQ+ community. Yet, none of this equates to sincerity if the company doesn’t downright reject the bill and stop at once giving their money to homophobic politicians and crooks.

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Source: Benjamin Siemon