Meet the First Trans Actress Cast by Disney for a Lucasfilm Project

Walt Disney World reportedly employs more than 65,000 people at its Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, making this an issue that’s close to home for many employees, some of whom were critical of Disney. Employees wrote on the “Disney Do Better Walkout” website, “The recent statements and lack of action by TWDC [The Walt Disney Company] leadership regarding the ‘Don’t Say Gay or Trans’ bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation.”

CEO Chapek later acknowledged the company’s mishandling in a statement to employees. “It is clear that this is not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights,” the statement posted to the company website read. “You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry.”

In a March 9 shareholder’s meeting, Chapek stated that the company had been opposed to the bill from the beginning, saying, “we chose not to take a public position on it because we thought we could be more effective working behind the scenes, engaging directly with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle,” according to NBC News.