Gabrielle Russon
Amid the political backlash with Republicans over Florida’s “Parental Rights in Education” law — dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” measure by critics — Disney is donating all the profits from its pride merchandise to charities that help the LGBTQ community, the company announced Monday.
“Disney has a long history of supporting LGBTQIA+ organizations and charities around the world,” Disney said on its parks blog. “This year, we are further deepening our support.”
The company said 100% of the profits through June 30 are going to a variety of organizations including GLSEN, PFLAG, The Trevor Project, Zebra Coalition, Los Angeles LGBT Center, LGBT Center Orange County, San Francisco LGBT Center and Ali Forney Center.
The Disney Pride Collection features everything from Mickey Mouse and Pixar to Stars Wars and Marvel. The merchandise is available at shopDisney.com and is selling items including a Mickey Mouse backpack decorated with a rainbow heart, a rainbow Star Wars Rebel Alliance pin, and a rainbow Marvel T-shirt.
“The annual collection in celebration of Pride was first introduced in 2018 and this year, we are excited to debut new branding for the Disney Pride Collection, dreamed up and designed by members and allies of the community, for members and allies of the community,” Disney said.
Disney also said it plans to celebrate the LGBTQ community with themed food and beverage, art displays, and special photo opportunities at the theme parks during June’s Pride Month.
Florida lawmakers pushed through a controversial bill this year that makes it illegal for Florida public school teachers to hold classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity with children in grades kindergarten through grade 3.
Disney, one of the largest employers in the state of Florida, remained silent on the issue, infuriating employees and advocates who argued the new law marginalizes LGBTQ people.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek later said the company was quietly advocating against the bill behind the scenes with lawmakers. Chapek apologized to employees and pledged to fight harder for LGBTQ issues. He said the company — which had previously given money to Republicans supporting the bill — was pausing political donations in Florida.
Disney then faced a backlash from state Republicans and Gov. Ron DeSantis who criticized Disney for being a “woke company.”
Last month, the Florida Legislature voted to eliminate Disney World’s government called Reedy Creek Improvement District which operates as a special taxing district to provide roads and other services for Disney. Without Reedy Creek, local leaders have said the local government — and local taxpayers — would be burdened with Disney’s debt. Reedy Creek’s removal is set for June 2023. DeSantis has not announced a plan for what comes next.
6 comments
TJC
May 16, 2022 at 2:33 pm
It’s the Mouse versus the Louse! I’m putting my money on the Mouse.
Claude Kirk the younger
May 16, 2022 at 4:16 pm
The headline is made to give the illusion there will be political backlash to Pride Month which is an adult function. Floridians have never cared about Disney hosting Pride Month with special events and there never was a Dont Say Gay Bill.
Now Florida does care about it’s childern and schools. And that has nothing to do with this pandering to the left article. Nothing whatsoever.
Jerry
May 16, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Companies should not be jamming this stuff down everyone’s throat. That’s what people don’t like. It’s being forced.
And trans people need to be realistic. You can’t change your genetics. You are what nature made you. Nothing can change that. If someone dug up your bones 1,000 years from now, they will identify you as the gender you were born as. There is nothing that can change that no matter how many laws you pass or how many rainbow pins Disney sells. Doctors can cut you up and businesses will be glad to sell you whatever clothes and makeup you want. Everyone will be glad to take your money and play pretend with you. But you can’t change your biology. That’s not transphobia, it’s just being realistic.
These days everyone wants to make things far more complex and even try to twist math and science to fit an agenda. But 1+1 will always equal 2. And XX will always be female and XY will always be male. There are certain exceptions of course but they are extremely rare. The left wants us to believe transgenderism is common and normal. It’s not! And we should not be pumping kids with powerful drugs and hormones all because they are depressed, confused, or don’t like how they were born.
Matthew Lusk
May 16, 2022 at 6:34 pm
Gay is not OK. God said so.
FLORIDA_RETAIL_SLUT
May 16, 2022 at 8:35 pm
I see it this way, myself as a free-market capitalist slut, Disney is free to sell whatever they want to whomever they want. If people want to buy it (gay merchandise) – they will. There’s a whole sub-culture of people who just buy/sell Disney related merchandise – gone on for years!
Even the gay-themed merchandise that’s Disney and/or Disney-related will be bought/sold by those such as the Disney pin-trader types – gay or not gay. They don’t care. Hell, to them, if it says Disney – they will sell it!
I do find it strange that other than the gay housing group in Orlando and Kissimmee, all of the organizations listed in this byline that are receiving donations from the mouse support dummocrats.
Why are the conservative gay organizations not listed? Where’s Peter Thiel and Rick Grenell and their organizations? Don’t they get a chance of being fed by Mickey’s trough too?
Disney stock down again today – $2.00 a share. For the recent 52 week period, Mickey’s stock price is down a whopping $79.00 a share! The folks in Burbank must have poo-pants everyday!
New Florida sate holiday: “Drain Reedy Creek Day – June 1”.
FLORIDA_RETAIL_SLUT
Joey mount
May 20, 2022 at 1:52 am
I don’t support mentally Ill causes.
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