Everything We Know About The Disney Company-Wide Walkout Happening on March 22, 2022
Disney has been steeped in controversy over the past few years. Since its inception, the company has promoted itself as wholesome and welcoming with its slew of original and property-based content for audiences of all ages. In the decades since its creation, it has also grown into one of the most wealthy and powerful corporations in the world with its acquisitions of highly profitable franchises including Marvel, Star Wars, The Muppets, and countless others. As a global entity, it promotes itself as diverse and inclusive as it presents content made by creators from all walks of life. It also stages large-scale LGBTQ+ Pride events at its parks and occasionally highlights films and series with black, gay, and otherwise marginalized casts.
The most recent controversy began when it was revealed that the company had made donations to the sponsors of what is colloquially known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. Proposed in the state of Florida, this bill calls for the banning of any teaching of LGBTQ+ topics or history in public schools. This led to a swift and deserved public backlash against not just the bill and its sponsors, but also Disney and the various other corporations that had lent their money to the bill's conservative backers. Though the CEO of Disney Bob Chapek initially declined to comment on the matter, he did eventually release a now-infamous statement in which he said that he would not withdraw his donations, but that Disney as a company would continue to release diverse stories and "inspiring content" for those whose very rights they were actively working against.
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Thousands of people on social media and within Disney itself called out the company for its blatant hypocrisy in attempting to appease bigots while also asking for the money of those being harmed by them. A few days later during one of Disney's investment calls, Chapek announced that he would be donating five million dollars to the Human Rights Campaign and other LGBTQ+ organizations and speaking with Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis in an attempt to dissuade him from signing the bill. However, both of these actions would backfire, as DeSantis would refuse to relent on his effort to eliminate any kind of LGBTQ+ teachings in Florida's schools and the HRC would decline Disney's donation, calling on them to take more direct action against the bill and its sponsors.
Since then, Disney has announced a most likely non-permanent halt on its donations to politicians in Florida. But the damage has been done and it is clear that the company needs to do more in terms of holding itself accountable. In response to Disney's mishandling of the matter, thousands of LGBTQ+ employees working for the company have organized a series of 15-minute-long walkouts being held from March 15 to March 21. The final walkout will be held on March 22 and last for the entire day.
The employees are also encouraging that people not use or purchase any of the company's services or products during these walkouts. In addition, they have posted a letter on social media addressed to Chapek and Disney as a whole. The following portion of the letter states their message perfectly:
"The recent statements by The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) regarding the Florida legislature's recent "Don't Say Gay" bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation. Primarily, those statements have indicated that leadership still does not truly understand the impact this legislation is having not only on cast members in the state of Florida, but on all members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the company and beyond."
Disney is no stranger to controversy in regards to its treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. Over the last decade, it has received consistent criticism for removing or limiting the roles of gay characters in its films and shows (Gravity Falls, Thor: Ragnarok, Beauty and the Beast). It has also been called out for hiring and working with actors who have exhibited anti-LGBTQ+ behavior (Tim Allen, Bill Burr, Rosario Dawson, Chris Pratt, Gina Carano). Basically, there is a lot of work to be done in the Magic Kingdom.
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Source(s): LGBTQ Nation