{"id":1372,"date":"2022-03-12T14:45:48","date_gmt":"2022-03-12T14:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/03\/12\/disney-ceo-apologizes-for-silence-on-dont-say-gay-bill\/"},"modified":"2022-03-12T14:45:49","modified_gmt":"2022-03-12T14:45:49","slug":"disney-ceo-apologizes-for-silence-on-dont-say-gay-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/03\/12\/disney-ceo-apologizes-for-silence-on-dont-say-gay-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Disney CEO apologizes for silence on \u2018Don\u2019t Say Gay\u2019 bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/3\/11\/22973199\/disney-bob-chapek-apology-dont-say-gay-bill-florida<\/a>
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Facing a tidal wave of backlash following Disney\u2019s failure to speak out against Florida\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay\u201d bill, Disney CEO Bob Chapek formally apologized to employees today for the company\u2019s failure to support its queer community. <\/p>\n

In an internal memo, Chapek addressed widespread criticism of Disney\u2019s witting silence<\/a> in response to the \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay\u201d bill passed recently by Florida\u2019s Senate. The message was addressed to all Disney employees, \u201cbut especially our LGBTQ+ community.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to all who have reached out to me sharing your pain, frustration and sadness over the company\u2019s response to the Florida \u2018Don\u2019t Say Gay\u2019 bill,\u201d Chapek wrote. \u201cSpeaking to you, reading your messages, and meeting with you have helped me better understand how painful our silence was. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The apology follows a chaotic week for the head of Disney, who previously told employees that Disney would not respond to the bill publicly despite operating a massive business empire in the state. The Parental Rights in Education, as it\u2019s formally named, prohibits educators from discussing \u201csexual orientation or gender identity\u201d with students at certain grade levels and would allow parents to bring legal action against school districts whose educators address them. <\/p>\n

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