Disney employees are planning a walkout Tuesday over the company's response to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill.
LGBT Disney workers recently announced plans for walkouts during 15 minute break periods beginning March 15, and they said that on March 22, "we will engage in a full stage walkout," ABC News reports. Plans for the walkout were publicized on a website called WhereIsChapek.com, referencing Disney CEO Bob Chapek, although it's not yet clear how many Disney staffers may participate.
Chapek faced criticism earlier this month for his silence on Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, which prohibits schools from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with young students. Chapek initially resisted calls for Disney to release a statement opposing the bill, but after days of criticism, he said Disney is against the legislation and apologized for his earlier stance.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The CEO also announced Disney would pause its political donations in Florida. But a statement on the WhereIsChapek website said the "recent statements and lack of action by [The Walt Disney Company] leadership regarding the 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation."
The website also laid out a list of demands, including that Disney "publicly commit to an actionable plan that protects employees from hateful legislation" and "cease all campaign donations to these politicians" who supported the bill. "A temporary pause is not enough," the website said.
On Tuesday, Disney+ said said it stands with its LGBTQIA+ employees and "we strongly denounce all legislation that infringes on the basic human rights of people in the LGBTQIA+ community."
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.