Disney Vows To Help Repeal Florida's ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law

ORLANDO, FL — After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1557 — commonly called the "Don't Say Gay" bill — into law Monday, Walt Disney Co. wasted no time issuing its strongest response yet opposing it.

According to the entertainment company, the bill should have never passed, and Disney now vows to help repeal it.

The controversial Parental Rights in Education bill, called the "Don't Say Gay" law by critics, faces court action by LGBTQ groups and is drawing scrutiny for Disney's role in the state.

Disney Wants Law Repealed

“Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that," Disney said in a statement. "We are dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country.”

The law prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and prohibits instruction deemed not age-appropriate for students. Parents may sue a school if these prohibited discussions take place.

It also requires school districts to adopt procedures for notifying parents if there is a change in services from the school regarding a child’s mental, emotional or physical health or well-being.

Related: 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Signed Into Law In Florida

DeSantis, GOP Hit Back At Disney

After Disney announced it would help repeal the law, DeSantis and the Florida GOP quickly fired back. The governor called the company "fundamentally dishonest" and said it had "crossed the line."

"The state is governed by the interests of the people of the state of Florida. It is not based on the demands of California corporate executives. They do not run this state. They do not control this state," DeSantis said during a news conference Tuesday. "We will never allow corporate influence to repeal the substantive rights of parents in our state."

"Businesses profiting from China’s slave labor shouldn’t be lecturing Florida about protecting children. They seem to have amnesia when it comes to their own actions," the Florida GOP tweeted.

Florida Democrats, who opposed the law's passage from the beginning, said the law is purely anti-LGBTQ+ and sends the wrong message to young people.

"Make no mistake, by signing the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, Gov. DeSantis is taking the side of hatred, bullying, and discrimination and sending a message to children in Florida that he doesn’t care about them or their families if he can use their pain to score political points," the state's Democratic Party tweeted.

Disney Vows To Support LGBTQ+ Community

Just before HB 1557 became law, Disney CEO Bob Chapek sent a message to employees apologizing for "staying silent for too long" on what some critics have argued is an attack on "basic human rights."

"You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry," a portion of Chapek's message reads.

"Starting immediately, we are increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states," the message continued. "We are hard at work creating a new framework for our political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values. And today, we are pausing all political donations in the state of Florida pending this review."

Disney's Silent Majority

Meanwhile, Jose Castillo, a current Disney employee who is running for Congress in Florida as a Republican, told Fox News Digital that the company's "silent majority" supports the parental rights law.

But if they speak out, they fear backlash.

"There is immense pressure to toe the company line," Castillo told the media outlet. "However, the reality is that those drawing attention to this issue are in the minority. The Disney cast members who support the parental rights defended by HB 1557 far outnumber those who are protesting against it."

Lawsuit Challenges "Don't Say Gay" Law

On Thursday, Equality Florida joined the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, attorney Elizabeth Schwartz, and families in Florida in filing suit over the new law.

Critics of the law argue that it's harmful, unconstitutional and a major slap in the face to LGBTQ+ families.

"We made a promise to defend the rights of all students to have a healthy environment to learn and thrive and for all parents to know their families are included and respected. Governor Ron DeSantis' cruel 'Don't Say Gay' law is meant to isolate, stigmatize, and erase LGBTQ families and our children," Equality Florida said in a statement Friday.

"We are proud to stand with the families who have fought to be recognized and with the students who have demanded to be included and respected. LGBTQ people are a part of every family, every community, every school and we will continue to stand firmly on the side of equality for all," it continued.

Critics also argue that HB 1557 violates the First and 14th Amendments of the Constitution by censoring classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in Florida public schools, not only for grades K-3 but for any grade as long as someone concludes the discussion is somehow not “age-appropriate.”

"Over time and continuing today, our nation has strived to make good on its promise that everyone is entitled to be treated with equal dignity under the law," said Roberta Kaplan, founding partner of Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP. "That is true when it comes to LGBTQ Americans, who now have the constitutional right to identify openly as LGBTQ, to marry, and to form families with children.”

"With the passage of HB 1557, Florida has not only taken a giant step backwards, but it has done so at the expense of our children, the most vulnerable members of society," Kaplan continued. "It is hard to imagine anything more offensive to our constitutional system than treating one group of school kids as second class based solely on who they are or who their parents are. This law cannot be allowed to stand."

Those opposed to the law say it deliberately employs broad and vague terms, inviting arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement by parents, who are designated as roving censors and empowered to sue local school boards for damages based on any violation.

Repealing 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act

As the battle over repealing the law intensifies, some Florida Republican lawmakers have entertained the idea of repealing the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act, which allows Walt Disney World to govern itself.

"Yesterday [Tuesday] was the second meeting in a week with fellow legislators to discuss a repeal of the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act, which allows Disney to act as its own government," Rep. Spencer Roach tweeted. "If Disney wants to embrace woke ideology, it seems fitting that they should be regulated by Orange County."

More than 50 years ago, the Florida Legislature, working with Walt Disney World Co., created the special taxing district to allow it to act with the same authority and responsibility as a county government.

The new legislation allows landowners within the Reedy Creek Improvement District, primarily Walt Disney World, to be solely responsible for paying the cost of providing typical municipal services such as power, water, roads, fire protection etc., according to the district's website.

Disney has yet to respond to the GOP's threats.