Basically, nothing has happened in the state of Florida – except that the Walt Disney Company will probably soon be a completely normal company: In the future it will be subject to the same laws as all other companies between Jacksonville and Key West, it pays the same taxes and has to meet the same requirements consider if it wants to build a new hotel. And yet the decision made by the Republican-dominated state legislature in Tallahassee is nothing less than a revolution that puts the spotlight on the Kulturkampf in the USA in a way no film studio ever could: A corporation takes a stand against being homophobic perceived law – and the once so company-friendly party of Ronald Reagan takes revenge by depriving this company of all its privileges. Welcome to 21st Century America.
What is it about? With 80,000 employees, Disney is Florida’s largest private employer. The theme parks attract millions of tourists every year who spend billions of dollars in the “Sunshine State”. To make this possible, the state of Disney had granted rights in 1967 that hardly any other company in the world enjoys: Since then, the group has resided in a specially created, approximately 100 square kilometer state district southwest of Orlando, which is largely self-governing, with many taxes and building regulations, operates its own water and electricity works as well as authorities and security services.
For decades, both sides benefited from this state-within-the-state construct — until the state legislature recently passed what critics call the “Don’t Say ‘Gay'” law, which bans Florida schools from asking children through third grade about any questions on the subject Clarify gender identity and sexual orientation. This is based on the belief that young people today only so often struggle with their identity or “become gay” because liberal teachers talk about homosexuality.
CEO Chapek tried for a long time to avoid commenting on the subject
Disney boss Bob Chapek has long refused to comment on the law – knowing full well that companies that take a position on socio-political issues quickly face boycott calls and other problems. However, under pressure from the workforce, the company spoke out and declared that the law was not compatible with its values and should be “taken back by parliament or overturned by the courts”. In addition, Disney will stop all donations to state politicians for the time being.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a sort of smarter version of populist Donald Trump, immediately saw an opportunity to further sharpen his image as a staunch conservative beyond Florida’s borders. According to polls, the 43-year-old would currently be the most promising Republican presidential contender if Trump did not stand for re-election in 2024. The governor pushed through a law in summary proceedings that provides for the dissolution of all special districts in Florida created before 1968 and which, after the state senate, has now also been approved by the house of representatives. “Disney is a guest in Florida,” said Congressman Randy Fine ahead of the vote. “We remind them of that today.” To enact the law and turn Disney into a thoroughly ordinary corporation, only one person needs to sign it: Ron DeSantis.