Bob Chapek's response to Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill

[lazyboy97o]

The same reason Xavier Becerra sues nuns to make them pay for abortion services. Because ideologues gonna ideologue.

And they’re going to do it by suing districts, who don’t have the resources to fight, so they will self censor to avoid any potential issue.

 

[BuddyThomas]

There are many people who think that discussing family make-up and including same-sex parents is indoctrinating children into being gay.

Your last sentence is why regular, open, unafraid dialogue with children needs to occur regularly as they mature. It's not a "one and done" thing.

The thing that many do not understand is that unless they are a complete psychopath, no one is “indoctrinating” any child into being gay and even if they were, it would not work, just like people trying to indoctrinate me into being straight for my entire childhood didn’t work. You are what you are.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

It's the same now, but they do discuss LGBTQ issues in slightly higher grades (I think 7th...but maybe 6th?) - they sort of have to in order to address the bullying that the community experiences.

I actually opted my oldest out of sex-ed classes in 7th grade because the other kids being all giggly and goofy made him uncomfortable. We have extensive discussions at home. He's a high school sophomore now and we've talked about juuuuust about everything that I think we need to, but not quite everything yet. No question is off-limits or taboo in our house.

I’m old fashioned and have no problem with any of these things being discussed in school, I just don’t think it should happen prior to about 11 or 12 because I don’t think most kids can grasp the concept before then.

I don’t worry it’ll “make” anyone gay, because I don’t think that’s a choice, I just worry it’s introducing confusing concepts to kids that can’t fully process it.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

And they’re going to do it by suing districts, who don’t have the resources to fight, so they will self censor to avoid any potential issue.

The DISTRICTS self-censoring removes all of the boogeyman conspiracy theories out of the equation. They're going to make sure things like the gender unicorn aren't in the curriculum, but nobody is going to go after teachers or students.

My daughter's first grade teacher is a gay man. He's an absolutely phenomenal teacher. I can't think of any reason why him being a gay man would ever come up in his classroom.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I’m old fashioned and have no problem with any of these things being discussed in school, I just don’t think it should happen prior to about 11 or 12 because I don’t think most kids can grasp the concept before then.

I don’t worry it’ll “make” anyone gay, because I don’t think that’s a choice, I just worry it’s introducing confusing concepts to kids that can’t fully process it.

I have head more than enough stories and examples of kids being able to handle the concept. We usually don't give kids enough credit, I find if we just normalize that the world is full of many different amazing people, some of which love each other.... they usually get it.

You always hear stories like:

"why does uncle Bob live with another man?"

and the parents say:

"because they love each other like mommy and daddy"

and often the kid is like:

"oh! can we go play now?!".

 

[Californian Elitist]

The thing that many do not understand is that unless they are a complete psychopath, no one is “indoctrinating” any child into being gay and even if they were, it would not work, just like people trying to indoctrinate me into being straight for my entire childhood didn’t work. You are what you are.

I remember my neighbor talking to me about moving. She said she loved Atlanta, but wouldn’t consider moving there because there’s “a lot of gay people there” and she was concerned about her grandson being influenced and turning gay.

That’s not how it works at all, I thought to myself. I just stared at her.

 

[BuddyThomas]

Just got the below email from the group that organizes Gay Days Orlando. Nice try, but WDW already has more than enough of my gay dollars and if the best Disney can do is say they will continue diverse content to their artistic endeavors while still funding anti-gay measures, I have no intention of returning anytime soon. I’m sure my personal boycott will not matter at all. There are tons of circuit queens who can’t bear to miss the dance parties at Typhoon Lagoon, Downtown Disney, and elsewhere.

“For immediate release :
KindRED Pride Celebrates RED Shirt Pride Days at Walt Disney World® Resorts , Encourages LGBTQ+ Community to Visit Florida or Wear Red Instead of a Boycott Against State’s Don’t Say Gay Initiative

Global Red Shirt Pride Day Scheduled June 4 as KindRED Pride Reflects on Legacy of LGBTQ+ Activism in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – March 2, 2022 – Despite calls for a boycott against the Florida legislature’s “Don’t Say Gay” initiative, KindRed Pride Foundation encourages the global LGBTQ community to show solidarity by attending RED Shirt Pride Days at Walt Disney World® Resorts in 2022 on June 4th in Orlando in DROVES!

Let’s remind Disney how powerful visibility is versus a boycott.

Those who are unable to attended are asked to wear a RED Shirt during the annual worldwide Red Shirt Pride Day on June 4 as a sign of solidarity for those that believe in Diversity, Inclusion, Equality, Safe Expression and Kindness.

We encourage the use of Hashtags: #RSPD #JustSayGay #REDOUT #gaydisney”

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

There are many people saying this bill is about going after pedophiles, or that anyone who is against the bill is a groomer that wants teacher to groom children.

That's not a thing.

That's a fake narrative concocted to create support for this bill, and further push harmful stereotypes and depictions of the LGBT community.


But the thing mentioned you say is not a thing, that is up for debate. The bill is insanely vague, and very well could be used in the way @TrojanUSC described.

I think you and Capt have hit on an important problem, people become so easily outraged now. They don’t bother researching what’s happening or discussing it with people who have opposing views… they read a dramatic tweet or see a catchy headline in their news (that matches their viewpoint) and take to the streets to protest or pen an email to their nearest lawmaker to “change” a problem that largely doesn’t exist in the first place.

I’ve learned more by talking about this bill over the last day than I had over the last couple weeks of news.

In this case if Disney supports those behind the bill they are anti gay, because one sides labeled it the anti gay bill, if they don’t support them they are anti family, because the other sides labeled it the pro family bill. I don’t blame Disney for staying out of this one, or politics in general, it’s lose/lose no matter what they do.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The DISTRICTS self-censoring removes all of the boogeyman conspiracy theories out of the equation. They're going to make sure things like the gender unicorn aren't in the curriculum, but nobody is going to go after teachers or students.

My daughter's first grade teacher is a gay man. He's an absolutely phenomenal teacher. I can't think of any reason why him being a gay man would ever come up in his classroom.

Teachers share stories from their lives. Morning meeting as an example, where everyone’s sharing something they did over the weekend. It wouldn’t be unheard of for a teacher to say “my wife and I went [insert place.]. We had a great time!” But take your child’s teacher, and it could be “my husband and I went [insert place]” - it’s not “bringing up” that he’s gay in any explicit sense, but could absolutely spark questions like “why do you have a husband” in kids that young, which then leads to the problems of this vague language as already referenced.

Heck, my daughter met her teacher’s spouse and kids at a PTA event this fall.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I have head more than enough stories and examples of kids being able to handle the concept. We usually don't give kids enough credit, I find if we just normalize that the world is full of many different amazing people, some of which love each other.... they usually get it.

You always hear stories like:

"why does uncle Bob live with another man?"

and the parents say:

"because they love each other like mommy and daddy"

and often the kid is like:

"oh! can we go play now?!".

I think you're underselling what all is buried in the "+" part of LGBT+. There's some bizarre, transgressive stuff out there. And some of the young fresh-out-of-college activist teachers are evangelists for it.

Let's all be very, very clear about what content they're trying to get out of elementary school classrooms and libraries. It's not about gay Uncle Bob. It's about books like Gender Queer.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think you're underselling what all is buried in the "+" part of LGBT+. There's some bizarre, transgressive stuff out there. And some of the young fresh-out-of-college activist teachers are evangelists for it.

Let's all be very, very clear about what content they're trying to get out of elementary school classrooms and libraries. It's not about gay Uncle Bob. It's about books like Gender Queer.

[

What elementary school libraries is Gender Queer in? I’m in a district that’s made national news for this book, and it is NOT in our elementary schools. It’s in our high schools.

 

[WizardofDestiny123]

Column: On Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill, Disney sets a new standard for corporate cowardice

Disney, Florida's most powerful corporation, greets the state's attack on LGBTQ+ kids with silence.

www.latimes.com

More and more media outlets are beginning to comment on the story. This is getting pretty bad. Disney has to address this tomorrow, in a meaningful light.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The thing that many do not understand is that unless they are a complete psychopath, no one is “indoctrinating” any child into being gay and even if they were, it would not work, just like people trying to indoctrinate me into being straight for my entire childhood didn’t work. You are what you are.

There are absolutely some psychos out there trying to turn kids trans for clout, but ironically it tends to be social media moms rather than schoolteachers.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think you and Capt have hit on an important problem, people become so easily outraged now. They don’t bother researching what’s happening or discussing it with people who have opposing views… they read a dramatic tweet or see a catchy headline in their news (that matches their viewpoint) and take to the streets to protest or pen an email to their nearest lawmaker to “change” a problem that largely doesn’t exist in the first place.

I’ve learned more by talking about this bill over the last day than I had over the last couple weeks of news.

In this case if Disney supports those behind the bill they are anti gay, because one sides labeled it the anti gay bill, if they don’t support them they are anti family, because the other sides labeled it the pro family bill. I don’t blame Disney for staying out of this one, or politics in general, it’s lose/lose no matter what they do.

I don’t disagree with your oveeall
Premise - but If Disney wants to stay out of politics in general, then they also need to stop financing candidates

 

[BuddyThomas]

I think you're underselling what all is buried in the "+" part of LGBT+. There's some bizarre, transgressive stuff out there. And some of the young fresh-out-of-college activist teachers are evangelists for it.

Let's all be very, very clear about what content they're trying to get out of elementary school classrooms and libraries. It's not about gay Uncle Bob. It's about books like Gender Queer.

No kid in elementary school wants to read anything like what you just posted and I cannot possibly imagine any reasonable adult trying to get an elementary school to read that. The problem is that the book bans in later grades are growing like crazy and include everything from The Color Purple to Fun Home to The Handmaids Tale and a bunch of other stuff.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I don’t disagree with your oveeall
Premise - but If Disney wants to stay out of politics in general, then they also need to stop financing candidates

That would harm the Dems much more than the Reps, about 85% of their donations go to the left. They hedge their bets just enough to gain some favor with the right but they are still very much a left leaning company.

Walt Disney Co Profile: Recipients

Walt Disney Co organization profile: candidate recipients for the 2024 cycle and top recipients of all types for the 2024 cycle.

www.opensecrets.org

 

[CaptainAmerica]

No kid in elementary school wants to read anything like what you just posted and I cannot possibly imagine any reasonable adult trying to get an elementary school to read that. The problem is that the book bans in later grades are growing like crazy and include everything from The Color Purple to Fun Home to The Handmaids Tale and a bunch of other stuff.

Like I said elsewhere, I think it's crap legislation. I just don't think it's a witch hunt against "gay Uncle Bob" as someone else put it. To the extent it's a witch hunt, it's a witch hunt against that transgressive stuff. Whether that's a legitimate concern is another question, and I probably agree with you.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

I’m old fashioned and have no problem with any of these things being discussed in school, I just don’t think it should happen prior to about 11 or 12 because I don’t think most kids can grasp the concept before then.

I don’t worry it’ll “make” anyone gay, because I don’t think that’s a choice, I just worry it’s introducing confusing concepts to kids that can’t fully process it.

6th grade includes 11 and 12 years old, 7th includes 12 and 13...which is right around where they start addressing it.

At ages younger than that, there's nothing sexual about anything...it's just people love and care for one another. I'm extra-sensitive to children being emotionally mature enough to handle things because my sons are both on the autism spectrum, but my youngest is far more delayed than his high-functioning older brother. He's 11, but emotionally more like between 7 and 9...so we temper conversations with him to be appropriate for him.

I think you and Capt have hit on an important problem, people become so easily outraged now. They don’t bother researching what’s happening or discussing it with people who have opposing views… they read a dramatic tweet or see a catchy headline in their news (that matches their viewpoint) and take to the streets to protest or pen an email to their nearest lawmaker to “change” a problem that largely doesn’t exist in the first place.

I’ve learned more by talking about this bill over the last day than I had over the last couple weeks of news.

In this case if Disney supports those behind the bill they are anti gay, because one sides labeled it the anti gay bill, if they don’t support them they are anti family, because the other sides labeled it the pro family bill. I don’t blame Disney for staying out of this one, or politics in general, it’s lose/lose no matter what they do.

But don't you see - the "pro-family" labeling is a purposeful misuse of the word because it insinuates that a family can't possibly include gay parents. Even it's labeling by those supporting it is purposefully exclusionary.

 

[Angel Ariel]

That would harm the Dems much more than the Reps, about 85% of their donations go to the left. They hedge their bets just enough to gain some favor with the right but they are still very much a left leaning company.

Walt Disney Co Profile: Recipients

Walt Disney Co organization profile: candidate recipients for the 2024 cycle and top recipients of all types for the 2024 cycle.

www.opensecrets.org

that’s fine…my point is merely once you start donating money, you can no longer claim neutrality on the major issues those candidates support

 

[CaptainAmerica]

that’s fine…my point is merely once you start donating money, you can no longer claim neutrality on the major issues those candidates support

Except they also donate money to the people who OPPOSE the legislation. Donating to both sides is just as neutral as not donating at all.