Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Orlando’s NBC News affiliate reports:
Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, has now made comments opposing a controversial bill nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. House bill 1557 received 22 “yes” votes and 17 “no” votes in the Senate on Tuesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis has indicated he will sign the bill into law.
During a Disney shareholders meeting Wednesday, Chapek said he called DeSantis in the morning and conveyed his “disappointment” in the bill. Chapek said he and other Disney executives will meet with DeSantis. The CEO said Disney will be signing a statement opposing legislation such as “Don’t Say Gay.”
ABC News reports:
Chapek told shareholders that he will meet with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Disney will donate $5 million to organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, which work to protect LGTBQ+ rights.
“I know that many are upset that we did not speak out against the bill,” Chapek said during the company’s annual shareholder meeting.
“We were opposed to the bill from the outset, but we chose not to take a public position on it because we thought we could be more effective working behind the scenes, engaging directly with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.”
CNN Business reports:
“Disney contacted our office today to speak with the governor. This is the first time we have heard from Disney regarding HB 1557,” Christina Pushaw, a spokeswoman for Governor DeSantis told CNN.
“The governor did take the call from Mr. Chapek. The governor’s position has not changed. No in-person meeting has been scheduled yet.”
Chapek said Monday that he and Disney’s leadership “unequivocally stand” with LGBTQ+ employees. However, he did not take a direct stand against the bill at that time, noting that corporate statements are “often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame.”
The fact that Chapek was so easily able to get DeSantis on the phone shows how critical @Disney COULD HAVE BEEN in defeating this legislation.
Imagine if Disney called a few Florida Senators before the vote yesterday?https://t.co/L4Kus1zWFY
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 9, 2022
Keeps getting worse. Chapek said that DeSantis assured him the law would not be used to “unduly harm or target” the LGBTQ community. Chapek seems unaware the entire purpose of the bill is to stigmatize and delegitimize the LGBTQ community.https://t.co/vGK3MKk90Q
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 9, 2022
“We were opposed to the bill from the outset, but we chose not to take a public position on it because we thought we could be more effective working behind the scenes.” — Chapek’s comments on the “Don’t Say Gay” bill + his call to DeSantis from today’s DIS shareholder’s meeting. pic.twitter.com/Ewn83goa5h
— Kirsten (@KirstenAcuna) March 9, 2022