Disney Pledges $5 Million to Protect LGBTQ Rights, CEO to Meet With Florida Gov to Discuss ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill
variety.comJennifer Maas TV Business WriterDisney CEO Bob Chapek said Wednesday the company is pledging $5 million to the Human Rights Campaign and other organizations protecting LGBTQ rights following backlash to the company’s initial quiet response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, as well as a report that the company has given money to all of the bill’s sponsors.
Chapek, who is taking his first public stance against the bill, says he will also be meeting with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to discuss Disney’s “concerns” over the legislation.The “Don’t Say Gay” bill has been passed by Florida’s House of Representatives and Senate and is now headed to the desk of DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law. “The governor heard our concerns and agreed to meet with me and LGBTQ plus members of our senior team in Florida to discuss the ways to address them,” Chapek said during Disney’s shareholders meeting Wednesday, when he confirmed for the first time Disney’s opposition to the bill, which would limit discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.“Gov.
