Disney Employees Walk Out Amid Furor Over Florida Legislation
Several weeks ago, before the Walt Disney Company became entangled in a battle over anti-L.G.B.T.Q. legislation in Florida — one that continued on Tuesday with walkouts by Disney employees — longtime theme park executives worried there could be trouble ahead.
More than 150 companies, including Marriott and American Airlines, had signed a Human Rights Campaign letter opposing the legislation, which restricts classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity and has been labeled by opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Disney, with roughly 80,000 theme park workers in Florida and a long history of supporting the L.G.B.T.Q. community, was not among them.
Leaders at the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products division urged action: Disney’s name should be on the list. They were rebuffed, according to three people briefed on the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comply with company strictures about speaking to reporters.
