Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Friday that would strip the Walt Disney Company of selfgoverning authority in its Orlandoarea parks. The loss of benefits came in response to the entertainment giant’s opposition to a new law restricting the treatment of LGBT agenda issues in schools.
The governor said Disney would pay more taxes as a result of the law, but didn’t elaborate. The law will remove the special condition that allows the company to operate Walt Disney World Resort as a separate city with four theme parks and two water parks.
Disney’s special status “was really an aberration,” DeSantis said at a news conference as he signed the law into law. “No person or company in Florida is treated like that.” Disney did not immediately comment on signing the project.
While the financial impact on the company and the state is uncertain, the move could alter the way Disney operates its sprawling central Florida empire and sour the close relationship it has had with the state for more than 50 years.
DeSantis is a potential Republican presidential nominee for 2024 who has courted conservative voters on issues including immigration, abortion and LGBT rights.
With his latest move against Disney, DeSantis is trying to brush up on his conservative credentials and shows he’s ready to take on what he describes as a Californiabased “activist” company that doesn’t share Florida values.
Disney initially did not publicly oppose laws related to the LGBT community in the past month, prompting criticism. The company later condemned the law and said it would suspend political donations in Florida pending a review.
The law, dubbed “don’t say gay” by critics, bans teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity to children in kindergarten through third grade. DeSantis supported the move, saying it would give parents more control over their children’s education.
Opponents call it a veiled attempt to marginalize gay and transgender students or children of parents who are members of the LGBT community.
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