Disney’s Opposition to “Anti-Grooming” Bill Confirms Corps Should Stay Out of Politics

The Parental Rights in Education bill, which recently passed the Florida legislature, is one of the most ridiculous stories circulating in the news. It’s now on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk, where he’s vowed to sign it.

Many wonder why a bill that gives parents more power and educators greater accountability being attacked so harshly. The answer appears to be that it dares to prohibit the teaching of sexual acts and gender ideology to preschoolers through third-grade children (which translates to ages 3-7). However, very loud leftists have been expressing their anger that parents don’t wish for their tiny children to exposed to such controversial and distressing topics without their parents’ permission. 

As Bounding Into Comics reports, progressives have been targeting corporations that have refused to take action against Florida over what they’ve redubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek sent out an internal memo saying that the company would not take a stance on the bill citing the potential backlash of inflaming political discourse.

Chapek initially explained why the company would not be getting involved with the bill, “As we have seen time and again, corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds. Instead, they are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame. Simply put, they can be counterproductive and undermine more effective ways to achieve change.”

However, he quickly made it clear where he and the company actually stands writing, “In terms of our communities, we are and will continue to be a leader in supporting organizations that champion diversity.

“In 2021, we provided nearly $3 million to support the work of LGBTQ+ organizations. And, we have a long history of supporting important events like Pride parades,’ he added.

After intense backlash from progressive activists who demanded the corporation act in their favor, Chapek confirmed the company is pledging $5 million to organizations protecting “LGBTQ rights.”

As reported by Variety, Chapek also declared at Disney’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders that the company had actually been opposing the legislation.

The CEO stated, “The governor heard our concerns and agreed to meet with me and LGBTQ+ members of our senior team in Florida to discuss the ways to address them.”

But these assurances were not enough for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LBGTQ+ advocacy group, which issued a press release late Wednesday that they won’t accept the $5 million donation over the studio’s “weak response” to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill which they’ve labelled the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill.

Joni Madison, Interim President of the HRC, released the following statement: “The Human Rights Campaign will not accept this money from Disney until we see them build on their public commitment and work with LGBTQ+ advocates to ensure that dangerous proposals, like Florida’s Don’t Say Gay or Trans bill, don’t become dangerous laws, and if they do, to work to get them off the books. Businesses have had and continue to have a major impact in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, from marriage equality to the defeat of House Bill 2 in North Carolina and beyond. While Disney took a regrettable stance by choosing to stay silent amid political attacks against LGBTQ+ families in Florida — including hardworking families employed by Disney — today they took a step in the right direction. But it was merely the first step.”

This is a prime example why private companies should never attempt to dictate anything on these culturally divisive matters, or other hot-button political issues, unless they want to risk this sort of backlash. But apparently Disney still has not learned this lesson. Their 2019 virtue signaling over Georgia’s Life Act played out nearly the same way. And yet Hollywood liberals are just fine with Muslim slaves in China. The hypocrisy is too exhausting to try to make sense of it.

Given some of the recent discoveries about how many leftists see children, their latest outrage against wanting to allow parents to protect their children from hyper-sexual training in kindergarten seems like a whole other level of sickness.

The truth of the Parental Rights in Education bill is as follows. It’s an anti-grooming statute, and one that’s been much required in light of recent events. There is no reason for a teacher to discuss “gender ideology” and sexuality with a tiny child, and any adult who does so should be investigated for pedophilia. Thankfully many parents will not stand by and watch as such insanity is normalized and forced on their pre-school children. Shrinking in the face of the LGBT+ whatever lobby is never a winning move, and as Disney just proved, neither is bending the knee.

Thankfully, DeSantis isn’t going to, and the republican party sorely needs more of his kind of leadership.