John Oliver has spoken out against Disney’s influence on the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The “Last Week Tonight” host used the March 13 episode to criticize Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek over his response to the Florida bill that passed the House and the Senate.
Oliver opened by saying that it’s been a “bleak few weeks for the LGBTQ community” before explaining the details behind the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which was passed by Florida’s Republican-held Senate. Officially titled the House Bill 1557, the proposed law prohibits “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in Florida primary schools.
As Oliver added, the bill is “not about sex at all; it’s about denying the existence of gay people.”
The HBO star called it “galling” that corporations like AT&T and Disney have financially supported the bill, noting that over the last two years, the Walt Disney...
Oliver opened by saying that it’s been a “bleak few weeks for the LGBTQ community” before explaining the details behind the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which was passed by Florida’s Republican-held Senate. Officially titled the House Bill 1557, the proposed law prohibits “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in Florida primary schools.
As Oliver added, the bill is “not about sex at all; it’s about denying the existence of gay people.”
The HBO star called it “galling” that corporations like AT&T and Disney have financially supported the bill, noting that over the last two years, the Walt Disney...
- 3/14/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
“When we donate money to different political candidates, we have no idea how they’re going to vote going forward into the future,” said Disney CEO Bob Chapek at a shareholders meeting this past week.
“That is such bullsh*t,” said John Oliver on HBO’s Last Week Tonight Sunday. “It is actively insulting, because it’s just not how donating works. When you donate money, you generally know what the recipient is going to do with it. That is why people donate to ‘Feeding America’ and not ‘Feeding America Or Maybe Taking Food Away From America.’ ”
Chapek made his statement in response to criticism that Disney had donated to Florida State Sen. Dennis Baxley, one of the chief sponsors of the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which would effectively ban discussion of the LGBTQ+ community and “sexual orientation or gender identity” in the state’s public...
“That is such bullsh*t,” said John Oliver on HBO’s Last Week Tonight Sunday. “It is actively insulting, because it’s just not how donating works. When you donate money, you generally know what the recipient is going to do with it. That is why people donate to ‘Feeding America’ and not ‘Feeding America Or Maybe Taking Food Away From America.’ ”
Chapek made his statement in response to criticism that Disney had donated to Florida State Sen. Dennis Baxley, one of the chief sponsors of the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which would effectively ban discussion of the LGBTQ+ community and “sexual orientation or gender identity” in the state’s public...
- 3/14/2022
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s announcement that the company will pause political donations in Florida, amid the uproar over the company’s past support for politicians who backed the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, underscored the shifting position for corporate campaign contributions. Where corporate political action committees faced relatively little scrutiny, save from public interest groups and campaign finance journalists, now they are political flashpoints — not just for large segments of their customer base but for rank-and-file employees. “We are hard at work creating a new framework for our political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values,” Chapek wrote in a memo to employees on Friday. When it comes to contributions to politicians, Hollywood overall has leaned to the left for decades. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks federal contributions, the split is 89% Democrats to 11% Republicans so far this cycle. But at the corporate level,...
- 3/12/2022
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Hosted by CEO Bob Chapek, the Walt Disney Company held its annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday, March 9 and, inevitably, the subject of the company’s recent inaction over Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill came up. Chapek said that he plans to meet with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to discuss the bill, which this week passed the Senate and is now in the governor’s hands. The bill forbids teachings on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade in public schools, and if signed by DeSantis, will take effect July 1.
On the call, Chapek said that Disney will pledge $5 million for LGBTQ+ advocacy, including a donation to the Human Rights Campaign. But following Chapek’s pledge, shareholders were given the floor to address their concerns over Disney’s past support of backers of the bill, and the company’s muted response in a statement shared by Chapek on Monday.
On the call, Chapek said that Disney will pledge $5 million for LGBTQ+ advocacy, including a donation to the Human Rights Campaign. But following Chapek’s pledge, shareholders were given the floor to address their concerns over Disney’s past support of backers of the bill, and the company’s muted response in a statement shared by Chapek on Monday.
- 3/9/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The Animation Guild’s Executive Board and QueerTAG Committee condemned Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek’s statement regarding Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which Disney financially backed.
The Animation Guild wrote on Instagram that it is “disheartening” that Disney did not immediately oppose Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, calling it a “momentous misstep” for the corporation.
CEO Chapek assured staff members on March 7 that the corporation “unequivocally” supports LGBTQ+ rights, despite donating to “Don’t Say Gay” bill backers for years. Officially titled the House Bill 1557, the law prohibits “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in Florida primary schools.
Chapek acknowledged the “disappointment” surrounding the fact that Disney waited to release a “public statement condemning the legislation,” while acknowledging that “our company has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community — and in fact, has played an important role in the personal journeys...
The Animation Guild wrote on Instagram that it is “disheartening” that Disney did not immediately oppose Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, calling it a “momentous misstep” for the corporation.
CEO Chapek assured staff members on March 7 that the corporation “unequivocally” supports LGBTQ+ rights, despite donating to “Don’t Say Gay” bill backers for years. Officially titled the House Bill 1557, the law prohibits “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in Florida primary schools.
Chapek acknowledged the “disappointment” surrounding the fact that Disney waited to release a “public statement condemning the legislation,” while acknowledging that “our company has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community — and in fact, has played an important role in the personal journeys...
- 3/9/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek issued a memo to staff members March 7 to state that the corporation “unequivocally” supports LGBTQ+ rights, despite donating to “Don’t Say Gay” bill backers for years. But Disney employees quickly took to Twitter to voice their disdain, calling the statement too, little too late.
“[Disney is] starting to include more LGBT characters that let kids know that being gay is all right. But when they have donated to the sponsors and co-sponsors of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and they have made no position against this bill, and they are going to continue donating to these politicians, they are essentially saying that this bill is Ok,” animation writer Benjamin Siemon said in a video posted on Twitter. “This bill is going to hurt kids, and that’s why I’m asking Disney to please take a position on the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill...
“[Disney is] starting to include more LGBT characters that let kids know that being gay is all right. But when they have donated to the sponsors and co-sponsors of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and they have made no position against this bill, and they are going to continue donating to these politicians, they are essentially saying that this bill is Ok,” animation writer Benjamin Siemon said in a video posted on Twitter. “This bill is going to hurt kids, and that’s why I’m asking Disney to please take a position on the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill...
- 3/8/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek assured staff members on March 7 that the corporation “unequivocally” supports LGBTQ+ rights, despite donating to “Don’t Say Gay” bill backers for years.
“I want to be crystal clear,” Chapek wrote in an internal memo shared with media outlets. “I and the entire leadership team unequivocally stand in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and their communities. And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company — and world. We all share the same goal of a more tolerant, respectful world. Where we may differ is in the tactics to get there.”
It was previously reported that Disney has given money to every single sponsor and co-sponsor of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which was passed by Florida’s House of Representatives on February 24. Officially titled the House Bill 1557, the proposed law is heading to the state’s Republican-held Senate next and...
“I want to be crystal clear,” Chapek wrote in an internal memo shared with media outlets. “I and the entire leadership team unequivocally stand in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and their communities. And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company — and world. We all share the same goal of a more tolerant, respectful world. Where we may differ is in the tactics to get there.”
It was previously reported that Disney has given money to every single sponsor and co-sponsor of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which was passed by Florida’s House of Representatives on February 24. Officially titled the House Bill 1557, the proposed law is heading to the state’s Republican-held Senate next and...
- 3/7/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The Walt Disney Company issued a statement of support for the LGBTQ+ community amid the backlash against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, supported by state politicians that the corporation has funded. But the company is still funding the homophobic politicians who’ve supported the bill, and nothing Disney CEO Bob Chapek has said indicates that that will change.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Disney has given money to every single sponsor and co-sponsor of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which was passed by Florida’s House of Representatives February 24. Officially titled the House Bill 1557, the proposed law is heading to the state’s Republican-held Senate next.
As the Orlando Sentinel stated, the bill’s Senate sponsor, Ocala Republican Dennis Baxley, has actively backed anti-gay legislation for years, including laws that would block gay couples from adopting children.
Additionally, Baxley “once compared kids who live with same-sex parents...
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Disney has given money to every single sponsor and co-sponsor of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which was passed by Florida’s House of Representatives February 24. Officially titled the House Bill 1557, the proposed law is heading to the state’s Republican-held Senate next.
As the Orlando Sentinel stated, the bill’s Senate sponsor, Ocala Republican Dennis Baxley, has actively backed anti-gay legislation for years, including laws that would block gay couples from adopting children.
Additionally, Baxley “once compared kids who live with same-sex parents...
- 3/4/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Producer and documentary filmmaker Abigail Disney is calling her family legacy into question again after it was revealed that the Walt Disney Company donated to Florida state representatives who supported the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Disney, who is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, activist, and the daughter of former Disney animation head Roy E. Disney and great-niece of Walt Disney, took to Twitter to condemn the corporation’s financial backing of the Parental Rights in Education bill, which prohibits “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in Florida primary schools.
“I could not be more unhappy with their political activities, both in terms of whom they fund and how they lobby,” Disney tweeted about the Walt Disney Company’s reported political contributions. “I would strongly support a law to require all corporations to reveal All of their funding and lobbying moves.”
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Disney has given money...
Disney, who is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, activist, and the daughter of former Disney animation head Roy E. Disney and great-niece of Walt Disney, took to Twitter to condemn the corporation’s financial backing of the Parental Rights in Education bill, which prohibits “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in Florida primary schools.
“I could not be more unhappy with their political activities, both in terms of whom they fund and how they lobby,” Disney tweeted about the Walt Disney Company’s reported political contributions. “I would strongly support a law to require all corporations to reveal All of their funding and lobbying moves.”
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Disney has given money...
- 3/2/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
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