Disney CEO Defends Lack Of Response To Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill
Disney CEO Bob Chapek defends the company's initial refusal to respond to Florida's controversial «Don't Say Gay» bill. Right now, Disney is gearing up for its first major release of 2022, the Pixar film Turning Red. The studio, through its many individual production companies, has already overseen a few releases this year, such as 20th Century Studios' Death on the Nile. Turning Red drops on Disney+ this Friday, and it hopes to capture the same level of attention as Disney's other recent animated release, Encanto, which became a blockbuster success after debuting on streaming in December.
Outside of its upcoming release slate, though, Disney is courting some controversy over its response to the «Don't Say Gay» bill. Officially called the Parental Rights in Education bill, it prevents the teaching of LGBTQ+ topics in schools from kindergarten through third grade, and also allows parents to sue educators who do promote these issues. The bill passed the Florida House and now moves onto the Senate; many have come out against it, including President Joe Biden. Disney, meanwhile, has gotten into trouble because it has donated to several of the lawmakers who backed the bill.
Related: Frozen 3 Should Make Elsa's LGBTQ Identity Canon (But Not With A Partner)
For days, Disney has remained mum on the topic, even as more and more people call out «Don't Say Gay». Finally, though, CEO Bob Chapek released a statement (via THR) that restates Disney's support of the LGBTQ+ community and explains why he was hesitant to say anything up until now. Chapek's memo is lengthy, but a portion of it reads:
“I want to be crystal clear: I and the entire leadership team unequivocally stand in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and
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