Pushback On The Pushback

Last week I wrote about Disney World in Florida protested the “Don’t Say Gay” law and one of the Disney heir that can out as trans or non-binary well the far-right came out to protest Disney’s support of the LGBTQ+ population and Gov. Ron DeSantis threatening to revoke a 1967 law that gives the company the authority to govern itself.

Disneyland Swarmed By “Anti-Groomer” Protesters Amid “Don’t Say Gay” Debacle
Inside the Magic
By Luke Dammann
April 14, 2022


Recently, crowds showed up at Disneyland to protest the company’s stance on Florida’s newest and most controversial piece of legislation.

At the moment, The Walt Disney Company could not find itself in more controversy if they tried. From claims of cultural appropriation to an incredibly offensive cheer performance on Main Street, U.S.A., Disney, and especially the Disney Parks is in the midst of multiple struggles.

The biggest one by far is how the company handled Florida’s new piece of legislation, which many are calling explicitly anti-LGBTQ+. Known as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill”, this piece of legislation is as simple as the title. As stated by NPR, “The legislation prohibits any instruction about sexuality or gender between kindergarten and third grade, or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.

Now, we are seeing Disney face the repercussions of its decision from Guests and others who may not agree with the company’s stance. Images of an “anti-grooming” protest just outside Disneyland were shared yesterday by NBC Reporter Ben Collins (@oneunderscore_)…

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As you can see [The article showed Twitter posts.], there were many signs with the claim that Disney is “pro-grooming” as well as complicit in a huge sex-trafficking scheme.

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From pride parades to big changes to rides and attractions, the Disney Parks have and still are taking big steps toward better and more accurate representation. The company has faced an intense amount of backlash however after publicly denouncing the bill (which they initially supported through donations).

Okay so how many people showed up to protest Disney, well it looked like that there were more Trump flags than protesters. Some reports said that there were about a hundred people protesting in Orlando and a small crowd gathered in Anaheim to protest. The protests seemed to be organized by by Moms for America by a Christian group "Hold the Line." The protesters used language like “Grooming,” “sex-trafficking,” and “pedophilia” about their support of LGBTQ+ children.

Disney, Built on Fairy Tales and Fantasy, Confronts the Real World
The entertainment behemoth spent decades avoiding even the whiff of controversy. But it has increasingly been drawn into the partisan political fray.
New York Times
By Brooks Barnes
April 17, 2022


Since its founding in 1923, Disney has stood alone in Hollywood in one fundamental way: Its family-friendly movies, television shows and theme park rides, at least in theory, have always been aimed at everybody, with potential political and cultural pitfalls zealously avoided.

The Disney brand is about wishing on stars and finding true love and living happily ever after. In case the fairy tale castles are too subtle, Disney theme parks outright promise an escape from reality with

welcome signs that read, “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.”

Lately, however, real world ugliness has been creeping into the Magic Kingdom. In this hyperpartisan moment, both sides of the political divide have been pounding on Disney, endangering one of the world’s best-known brands — one that, for many, symbolizes America itself — as it tries to navigate a rapidly changing entertainment industry.

At a shareholder meeting last month…

Last month, when Disney held its most recent shareholder meeting, Mr. Chapek was put on the spot by shareholders from the political left and right.

When you are tiptoeing you end up displeasing both sides.

In response, Mr. Chapek noted the contrasting shareholder concerns. “I think all the participants on today’s call can see how difficult it is to try to thread the needle between the extreme polarization of political viewpoints,” he said.