As Daily Kos covered at the time, Disney employees bravely spoke out against the entertainment giant after CEO Bob Chapek gave a less than satisfactory statement about the company’s stance (including political donations in the state) behind the hateful “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida. Republicans pushed (and passed) the legislation as a matter of parental rights, but in reality, it’s a way to keep LGBTQ+ students, teachers, and families in the closet, and that’s not okay.
Because of its theme park in Orlando, Disney has a huge presence in Florida, with about 75,000 employees based there. And really, Disney is such a media giant it has a strong presence pretty much everywhere, especially when you think about the kids who would be most impacted by the Don’t Say Gay bill becoming law—primary school students. While Chapek has given an updated statement, promising an ongoing commitment to LGBTQ+ allyship and a pause on all political donations in the state, Disney employees want more. So, they’re walking out.
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“The recent statements by The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) leadership regarding the Florida legislature’s recent ‘Don’t Say Gay or Trans’ bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation,” organizers of the “Disney Do Better Walkout” wrote in an open letter. They implored the company to “regain the trust” of LGBTQ+ people and allies by taking a more meaningful stand against the legislation, including permanently stopping all political donations to politicians who backed this bill.
“Due to the lack of compassion and advocacy,” the letter continues. “TWDC’s LGBTQIA+ community and their allies are determined to take a stand via multiple direct actions, including both virtual and in-person protests.” Walkouts can happen in all Disney locations, not just Florida.
“The ongoing attempts to placate the LGBTQIA+ community with subpar representation in the content produced and donations to well-meaning organizations are simply not enough,” organizers continued. “You cannot fix this with educational seminars or token background characters - even organizations like HRC refuse your money until action is taken.”
That last bit is in reference to the Human Rights Campaign refusing Chapek’s promised $5 million donation—at least until Disney takes “meaningful action.”
According to organizers, Disney workers are protected during 15-minute walkouts and sickouts, but not during an all-day walkout, so they’re encouraged to assess their “own situation” before participating. The full-day walkout is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22. It’s unclear if walkouts that have already happened have had any impact on work or operations at Disney so far.
You can follow updates from the organizers directly on Twitter and at whereischapek.com.
Have you ever walked out of a job in protest? Do you feel walkouts have a meaningful impact in general? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences below!
