Florida governor moves to end Disney’s self-governing status in fallout over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday requested the state legislature to repeal a regulation permitting Walt Disney World to function as a personal authorities over its properties within the state, the newest salvo in a feud between the politician and the media big.
DeSantis, a well-liked Republican governor and potential 2024 presidential candidate, has battled with Disney over the corporate’s opposition to a brand new regulation barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender id in kindergarten via third grade.
On Tuesday, DeSantis raised the stakes.
As lawmakers returned to the capitol for a particular legislative session on congressional redistricting, the governor introduced he issued a proclamation that enables the Republican-controlled statehouse to take up payments eliminating Disney’s self-governing district.
“I’m saying right now that we’re increasing the decision of what they will be contemplating this week. And so, sure they are going to be contemplating the congressional map, however additionally they will likely be contemplating termination of all particular districts that had been enacted in Florida previous to 1968, and that features the Reedy Creek Enchancment District,” DeSantis mentioned at a information convention, referencing the corporate’s governing district with out mentioning Disney by title.
The Reedy Creek Enchancment District is a personal authorities managed by Disney World and arrange by the state legislature in 1967 that enables it to supply companies corresponding to zoning, hearth safety, utilities and infrastructure.
“Disney is a visitor in Florida. Right this moment we remind them,” Republican lawmaker Randy Superb tweeted on Tuesday.
Disney final month introduced it will droop political donations within the state over the brand new Parental Rights in Schooling regulation, which opponents dubbed the “Do not Say Homosexual” regulation, over criticism that barring classes on sexual orientation and gender id in early grades would marginalize LGTBQ folks.
6:46This household says Florida’s ‘Do not Say Homosexual’ invoice will hurt their daughter and erase their historical past
Brandon Hensler doesn’t need his four-year-old daughter to really feel like an “different” when she begins college subsequent yr simply because she has two dads. However he says that’s precisely what’s going to occur if Florida passes its so-called “Don’t Say Homosexual” invoice, which restricts discussions of sexual orientation and gender id within the classroom. 6:46
“Our aim as an organization is for this regulation to be repealed by the legislature or struck down within the courts, and we stay dedicated to supporting the nationwide and state organizations working to attain that,” Disney mentioned in a press release on the time.
That got here solely after Disney CEO Bob Chapek earlier apologized in a letter to staff over the corporate’s preliminary silence when the invoice was introduced. Some staff staged a walkout in protest to the inaction.
“You wanted me to be a stronger ally within the combat for equal rights and I allow you to down,” Chapek wrote.
Democrat slams governor for ‘arguing with Mickey Mouse’
Disney is one in all Florida’s greatest non-public employers, with an estimated 75,000 staff within the state.
Representatives from the corporate didn’t instantly return an emailed request from the Related Press for touch upon the newest growth.
Nikki Fried, a Democratic candidate seeking to defeat DeSantis as governor in a Nov. 8 election, mentioned Monday night the governor “needs to invent tradition wars to distract from the truth that he hasn’t executed something significant to enhance the lives of Floridians.”
“He can maintain arguing with Mickey Mouse, we’ll run a marketing campaign targeted on decrease value and better requirements for the folks,” Fried tweeted.
