Disney’s ntroversial rponse to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill unrsr the pany’s plited history wh the LGBTQ+ muny — a plex relatnship which Disney has played both champn and punchg bag.
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AFTER ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ BILL BACKLASH, DISNEY CEO EXPRS ‘UNWAVERG SUPPORT’ FOR LGBTQ COMMUNY
* disney and gay community *
Disney’s ntroversial rponse to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill unrsr the pany’s plited history wh the LGBTQ+ muny — a plex relatnship which Disney has played both champn and punchg bag. Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out about — but did not nmn — Florida’s ntroversial Parental Rights Edutn bill, which crics dubbed “Don’t Say Gay. Griff, who is also a profsor of film and media arts at Southern Methodist Universy, add that Disney has recently received a lot of publicy about var Disney films wh openly gay characters.
Even though Disney’s re product of fay-iendly entertament hasn’t been blatant s reprentatn of gay characters, ABC — which is owned by Disney — has done so wh TV shows like “Morn Fay” and “Ellen. ” In fact, “Ellen” had the first gay lead character on TV 1997.
Disney has historilly had many gay employe, too. This is supposed to be Disney World’s 50th year, but the pany fds self danger of beg st out of s own magic kgdom.DeSantis’s move was explicly retaliatn to Disney’s opposn to HB 1557, better known as the “Don’t say gay” law.
The pany’s tone af mishandlg of Florida’s ‘don’t say gay’ bill has revealed a long-gtatg nflict * disney and gay community *
In terms of the LGBTQ+ muny, though, Disney’s relatnship go far eper, and has veloped ways the pany self n never have anticipated.Walt Disney was never a rd-rryg homophobe but he was a steadfast nservative, and long after his ath 1966, Disney’s output ntued to promote “tradnal” and “fay” valu. That didn’t disunt “dg” Disney characters (ually villas) as queer, that they exhibed stereotypilly gay attribut such as effemate behavur or distert the oppose sex: Jafar Aladd, for example, or Sr The Ln Kg, or even Shere Khan the tiger The Jungle Book. He moved to Florida and worked for Disney for 15 years.Disney employe prott agast Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill.
One of the unsung LGBTQ+ hero of Disney lore, for example, is Howard Ashman, the openly gay lyricist and producer, who died of an Aids-related illns 1991. “You didn’t always feel safe as a gay kid, now you’re walkg down Ma Street, USA, and everythg is manicured, everythg is clean. This was the park’s first Gay Day, and has ntued ever sce.
Compose: Guardian DignIn the early years, Disney would warn “straight” visors when was Gay Day and hand out whe T-shirts to non-participants who had advertently turned up wearg red. While Disney do not officially regnise Gay Day, soon me to appreciate the mercial clout of the LGBTQ+ muny.