Disney Cast Members Set to Stage Walk-Outs in Stand Against The Walt Disney Company’s Lack of Action over “Don’t Say Gay” Bill
Groups of employees at The Walt Disney Company are arranging scheduled walk-outs, in order to demonstrate against the company’s handling and lack of action over the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill, put forward by Florida state legislature.
Last week, a statement was released by The Walt Disney Company and Bob Chapek, specifically commenting on their response to the bill. You can read the statement in full here.
In light of the statement, and the “lack of action by TWDC leadership,” the Walt Disney Company’s LGBTQIA+ community and their allies are taking a stand, in the form of a series of collective actions and walkouts starting from this week.
A website, entitled whereischapek.com, has been created as a resource and landing page in organization of the “Disney Do Better Walkout” movement. Starting today, Tuesday March 15th, and through the rest of the week, scheduled walkouts will be arranged for break periods during the working day, with a full-stage walkout scheduled for Tuesday March 22nd.
Employees are able to sign up to receive daily check-in notifications by inputting their Disney official email to the website, and register their support.
As well as sharing arrangements for these walkouts, the “Disney Do Better” movement website also links to an open letter and petition from the LGBTQIA+ community, and shares statements from Cast Members who have been disgusted by the bill.
One of the key focus points of TWDC’s response to the bill was their history of political donations made to the officials who acted in support of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
A list of these amounts has been listed on the website, along with a comprehensive guide to what the bill actually means, and how it affects the LGBTQIA+ community.
As well as the walkouts, employees of TWDC are encouraged by the website to voice their opposition of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, not only by spreading the word but also by actively sharing their stance on workplace platforms.
A series of background images have been released for people to use for online meetings, depicting the LGBTQIA+ flag colors and bold slogans, including “DISNEY SAY GAY.”
A written, unified statement has also been composed, for staff to use as their “away message” on email and networking platforms. This reads as follows:
As an employee of The Walt Disney Company and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community I will be taking an organized and unified break to speak out against Disney’s lack of action against the ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill”. You can find our demands of Disney leadership here: https://www.whereischapek.com/demands
You can visit the website, whereischapek.com here, and learn more about the work they are doing in order to prevent this new bill.
Featured image credit: whereischapek.com