Disney workers are taking a stand amid the company’s response to Florida’s controversial educational parental rights law, which critics have infamously dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
On Tuesday, employees staged several strikes in protest at CEO Bob Chapek’s handling of the bill, which has passed the state legislature and is now awaiting the signature of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
If signed, the law would ban classroom discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools between kindergarten and third grade.
Chapek, who initially chose not to comment publicly on the matter, chose to work behind the scenes to try to soften the legislation. It did not work.
The executive eventually reversed course after fierce backlash. He publicly condemned the act during the company’s March 9 annual meeting.
Two days later, Chapek went a step further, apologizing directly to employees in a company memo, writing in part, “You needed me as a stronger ally in the fight for equality and I failed you. I’m sorry.”
But some workers think the gesture was just too little, too late.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek under fire over company’s response to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law
“We expect more from the CEO,” Nicholas Luis Maldonado, a current Disney employee who attended Tuesday’s work stoppage, said in a recent interview with Yahoo Finance.
“I just want to be proud to say that I’m a Disney World employee [again]but at this point I just don’t feel the Disney magic,” he continued.
A Disney spokesman responded to the strikes in a statement, writing, “We recognize how important this issue is to our LGBTQ+ employees, their families and allies, we respect our colleagues’ right to speak their minds, and we are committed to our continued support of the LGBTQ+ community in the fight for equality.”
Early Tuesday, the company’s parks division released a statement on social media, writing in part, “We oppose any legislation that violates basic human rights and stand in solidarity and support to our LGBTQIA+ cast, crew and Imagineers and fans who support their.” make voices that can be heard today and every day.”
The story goes on
The statements follow Monday’s company-wide virtual town hall (dedicated to issues surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community), in addition to the unveiling of a new task force that Disney says will “develop action plans to create more LGBT-conscious content for create children and families. “
The company also announced that Chapek and other senior executives will conduct a global listening tour and meet with employees in the US and internationally.
“It’s a step in the right direction, she said, but there’s so much more that needs to be done beyond today,” Maldonado said. He added that he hopes the company will hold more town hall meetings and open forums, alongside more public statements both in support of the community and “against any future anti-LGBTQ legislation.”
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 22: Disney employee Nicholas Maldonado holds a sign while protesting outside of Walt Disney World on March 22, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Employees are staging a company-wide walkout today to protest Walt Disney Co.’s response to controversial Florida law known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), told Yahoo Finance that “this is a necessary fight.”
The California-based union represents multiple worker classifications within Disney, including costume and supervisory staff.
“Our members expect Disney to be a good corporate citizen … I think American corporations have been looking after their own interests for too long and not really understanding the impact they have on issues beyond the workplace,” he said.
Huerta went on to explain that big-name companies like Disney have responsibilities beyond their core businesses, citing recent employee struggles at Starbucks (SBUX), Amazon (AMZN), Kellogg (K) and Netflix (NFLX).
“I think workers are realizing that they have more power than they give themselves credit for,” Huerta said.
He added that holding employers accountable was “a hell of a thing” that was “long overdue”.
“Workers have power, and their power is greater when they stand shoulder to shoulder than when they stand alone,” he concluded.
Alexandra is Senior Entertainment and Food Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alliecanal8193
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