Disneyland promoted its first-ever “Pride Nite” at its California theme park on Twitter Monday, just as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took another shot at the entertainment conglomerate in the Sunshine State.
The presumptive 2024 presidential candidate and Disney, his state’s largest employer, have been at odds ever since the corporate giant publicly condemned DeSantis-backed legislation that banned discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms.
The feud intensified when DeSantis, 44, created a new board to oversee Disney World, ending the House of Mouse’s long-held self-government.
But the DeSantis-appointed board was rendered powerless after its predecessors quietly passed a restrictive development agreement just before the change.
The clash escalated further Monday when DeSantis vowed to stop Disney’s efforts to circumvent state oversight.
“You’re not going to have Disney have its own government in central Florida,” DeSantis declared.
“You’re going to live under the same laws as everybody else.”
The Sunshine State governor ousted the five Disney-backed members of the panel that oversaw the Reedy Creek Improvement District, Disney’s special self-governing district, and handpicked their replacements to limit the company’s powers.
Disneyland shared news of the Pride-themed event on Monday on Twitter, not long after DeSantis launched his latest attack against the company. Disney
The clash escalated further on Monday when DeSantis vowed to stop Disney’s efforts to circumvent state oversight. Disney
However, before outgoing members were replaced, they approved special measures that handed most of the panel’s powers back to the entertainment giant.
“Disney did special deals to circumvent that whole process,” DeSantis asserted.
“They controlled the board. It was basically a legal fiction where they negotiated with themselves to give themselves self-governing status. That’s in direct defiance of the will of the people of Florida.”
The move gave full developmental authority over the 27,000-acre (42-square-mile) property to the parent company and barred the board from any use of the Disney brand — a move that DeSantis has said the state Legislature will halt.
DeSantis and Disney have been at odds ever since the corporate giant publicly condemned DeSantis-backed legislation that banned discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms. AP
Disneyland quietly announced its Pride Month plans on April 14, though news began to travel once the amusement park promoted the event on Twitter Monday, just around when DeSantis’ made his remarks about reeling the entertainment conglomerate in.
The festive, after-hours special event titled, “Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite,” has been billed as “a separately ticketed event which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, and will be held on June 13 and 15, 2023, inside Disneyland park.”
The after-hours Pride Month event will feature themed entertainment, Disney characters, photo opportunities, specialty menu items, merchandise and more, according to Disney Parks Blog.
The separately ticketed event will begin with a three-hour pre-party before the private party runs to 1 a.m. PT.
During that period, attendees can ride popular attractions after regular park hours.
goderdammurang on April 19th, 2023 at 14:37 UTC »
Christie for all his sins put it best.
If Disney can flank this guy then do you really want him negotiating with Xi or Putin?
DeRantis is not unlike many control freak micro manager executives who believe power means it's ok not to have people skills.
I've seen this guy a hundred times over.
IT_Chef on April 19th, 2023 at 13:30 UTC »
This is such a strange hill to die on.
This will not translate well nationally for him. If the GOP talking point is that corporations are people, and he is willing to violate "a person's" 1st amendment rights in a blatant way, hes gonna lose both with the general public, and in court too.
I cannot believe I am rooting for Disney of all corporations.
Grazmahatchi on April 19th, 2023 at 12:56 UTC »
DeSantis wanted a petty fight.
Disney is going to make him look even pettier and more foolish.
There is no way out for DeSantis on this aside from admitting defeat and walking away.
...which of course means DeSantis is going to keep getting punked by Disney until he is laughed out of office.