Because Disney eventually opposed Gov. Ron DeSantis' "Don't Say Gay" legislation, he's retaliated by voiding the corporation's right of occupation of an area that's home to Disney World.
In 2013, Russia introduced a law prohibiting “gay propaganda,” much to the disgust of the civilized world. Then, this year, Florida did much the same with DeSantis signing a “Don’t Say Gay” bill into law last month.
This means, according to NPR, that public school teachers in Florida are now banned from holding classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity. The stupid piece of legislation was called the “Parental Rights in Education” bill.
Among the many who voiced their opposition to the bill was the Disney Corporation, which, thanks to a law passed in 1967—the Reedy Creek Improvement Act—was given control of a 39-square-mile area that’s now almost entirely occupied by Disney World.
Furious over Disney’s intervention, DeSantis, above, and his Republican cohorts, decided to punish Disney by voiding the Act, and, in doing so, strip the corporation of its self-governing land.
The move could cost Florida taxpayers millions.
The Miami Herald pointed out:
If Reedy Creek is dissolved, Orange and Osceola counties would assume responsibilities handled by the district like sewer and road maintenance, meaning taxpayers in those counties would pay. Taxpayers would also collect the tax revenue Disney pays itself, WFTV 9, an ABC affiliate in Orange County explains. But these counties’ residents would also absorb a lot of debt, too. That debt is no small number: a reported $1 billion.
Separately, The Miami Herald editorial board wrote “DeSantis unleashes vengeance on Disney. This is the stuff of Nixon’s enemies list.”
Back in 1971 Nixon’s list had 20 names on it. Over the next few years, it grew to 576 names. We all know how that ended. Now we have DeSantis’ frightening misuse of power. It must stop here, and that starts with lawmakers stiffening their backbones. Today, it’s Disney. Tomorrow, who knows?
Vanity Fair pointed out that Florida state Sen. Jeff Brandes was the only Republican to vote against the bill. It quoted him as saying:
The cost to the state would be astronomical, potentially billions of dollars.
He added that “it isn’t even really about Disney” but rather “staying on Fox” and “extending the media life of this story-line”—one that the governor, who is up for reelection this year and is widely seen as a presidential candidate come 2024, has seized upon in his culture-war campaign.
Meanwhile, DeSantis has earned the praise of evangelist Franklin Graham, above, for signing into law the bill removing the entertainment company’s self-governing status.
Thank God for Gov. Ron DeSantis who is willing to take a bold stand. We need more leaders like him. God bless him and the Florida legislature.
The raging hate preacher added that “what has happened at Disney is moral failure,” noting that Walt Disney desired wholesome family entertainment for the company.
He was committed to the family. The morals of the corporate leadership of Disney today are in the gutter, and they want to redefine family counter to God’s original design and flaunt sin.
Graham encouraged his followers to not support Disney, saying.:
There’s a TON of fun things for families to do here other than supporting Disney.
There’s a certain irony about a man banging on about decency and morality when he tours the world soliciting vast amounts of money to enable the preaching of hatred and intolerance.
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April 29, 2022
The very words “Parental Rights” fill me with horror. In my opinion, any parent, who puts their “rights” over their children before the rights of their children, is not a good parent.