pic.twitter.com/VruuEB3mC0— PopCentral (@popcentral_) April 11, 2022Charlee Corra Disney, a 30-year-old high school science teacher who is the transgender child of Walt Disney’s great-nephew, recently spoke out against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law.
But their words underscore the uneasiness with which the House of Mouse has acknowledged its queer workers and fans.“I had very few openly gay role models, and I certainly didn’t have any trans or non-binary role models” Charlee Disney told the Los Angeles Times. “I didn’t see myself reflected in anyone, and that made me feel like there was something wrong with me.Mentioning the high rates of bullying, mental illness and suicidality among LGBTQ youth, they added, “Then to put something like this law on top of that?
They can’t learn about their community and their history at school, or play sports or use the bathroom they want to use?”Disney’s fans and employees expressed disappointment that Disney had funded the law’s sponsors and then initially refused to speak out against it.
Disney later came out against the law and offered a $5 million donation to the Human Rights Campaign as a form of damage control, but the HRC rejected it.