Bob Chapek.Photo: Owen Hoffmann/Patrick McMullan via Getty
Disney employs tens of thousands of people at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
“Speaking to you, reading your messages, and meeting with you have helped me better understand how painful our silence was,” Chapek said in the email. “It is clear that this is not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to 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,” he added.
The recently passed bill (HB 1557) prohibits discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in primary school classrooms. Florida Gov.Ron DeSantishas said he will sign the bill.
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Turning Red(2022).Disney/Pixar
“Starting immediately,” said the CEO, Disney is “increasing [their] support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states.”
“We are hard at work creating a new framework for our political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values,” he continued. “And today, we are pausing all political donations in the state of Florida pending this review.”
Chapek said he knows “there is so much more work to be done,” but promised he is “committed to this work and to you all, and will continue to engage with theLGBTQ+ community so that I can become a better ally.”
“You will hear more about our progress in the coming weeks,” he added. “I truly believe we are an infinitely better and stronger company because of our LGBTQ+ community. I missed the mark in this case but am an ally you can count on — and I will be an outspoken champion for the protections, visibility, and opportunity you deserve.”
Bob Chapek.Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty
“We at Pixar have personally witnessed beautiful stories, full of diverse characters, come back from Disney corporate reviews shaved down to crumbs of what they once were,” the letter read. “Nearly every moment of overtly gay affection is cut at Disney’s behest, regardless of when there is protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar.”
It continued, “Even ifcreating LGBTQIA+ contentwas the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world, we are being barred from creating it. Beyond the ‘inspiring content’ that we aren’t even allowed to create, we require action.”
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The letter urged Disney leadership to “immediately withdraw all financial support from the legislators behind the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, to fully denounce this legislation publicly, and to make amends for their financial involvement.”
Chapek addressed the issue Wednesday during Disney’s annual shareholders meeting.
“While we have been strong supporters of the community for decades, I know that many are upset that we did not speak out against the bill,” Chapek said, perDeadline.
He continued, “We were opposed to the bill from the outset, but we chose not to take a public position on it because we felt we could be more effective working behind the scenes, engaging directly with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.”
“And we were hoping that our longstanding relationships with those lawmakers would enable us to achieve a better outcome. But, despite weeks of effort, we were ultimately unsuccessful,” Chapek added.
Luca(2021).Disney/Pixar
Chapek said he reached out to DeSantis, 43, “to express our disappointment and concern that if the legislation becomes law it could be used to target LGBTQ kids and families,” and that the governor has agreed to meet with him and LGBTQ members of Disney’s senior team.
Disney has not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
