The Walt Disney Corporation has officially filed a lawsuit in federal court against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other officials. The lawsuit alleges that there is a “targeted campaign of government retaliation.” A campaign that kicked off after the company publicly opposed the sates proposed Florida Parental Rights in Education law. Which is more commonly known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. This legislation bans lessons in classrooms on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. DeSantis signed the bill into law in March of 2022.
Last year, former Disney CEO Bob Chapek publicly criticized the law after employees and LGBTQ advocates pushed for him to take a more forceful stand on the issue. The company’s current CEO Bob Iger seems to be holding the same stance though. “This company has been telling stories for 100 years,” said Iger. “and those stories have had a meaningful, positive impact on the world, and one of the reasons they have had a meaningful, positive impact is because one of the core values of our storytelling is inclusion and acceptance and tolerance, and we can’t lose that,”
It’s no secret that Disney has a rather large following in the LGBTQ community. Despite past company policies that have discriminated against the community. The company seems to be actively working towards a more inclusive environment.
This friction of the “Don’t Say Gay” law has caused DeSantis and others to go after the self-governing privileges that Walt Disney World has in Orlando. DeSantis, a possible Republican presidential contender, has threatened to revoke these privileges. Despite the fact that Disney is one of the state’s largest employers, not to mention all the tourism the park drives.
On Wednesday, Disney filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Solidifying their f**** around and find out stance on the matter. The company alleges that a retaliation campaign has been “orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech.” It “now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”
“Disney regrets that it has come to this,” the first section of the lawsuit states. “But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials.”
The company announced it had filed the suit just moments after a local governing board passed a resolution that voided an agreement, that allowed the Walt Disney World theme park and resort to keep control over much of its business operations in the state.
“We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state,” a spokesperson for DeSantis told NBC News. “ This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law.”
“Disney was openly and legally granted a unique and special privilege,” said Alan Lawson, former Florida Supreme Court justice, board meeting. “that privilege of running its own local government. That era is ending.” Lawson’s firm was also hired by the DeSantis-appointed board.
While it’s easy to dismiss Disney’s statements as them just enjoying the spoils of rainbow capitalism. A practice where companies will spit merchandise aimed at the LGBTQ community. While faking an interest in equal rights, as they do almost nothing to back it up in terms of policies or legislation. But this lawsuit could theoretically hurt Disney’s bottom line. Which we all know is the ultimate sacrifice under capitalism. It is possible that they are actively trying to make up for the sins of the past within their own company, by fighting an unjust law that could actively hurt their employees and park guests. But only time will tell how much this lawsuit may or may not change things.
