LGBTQ+ Disney Employees Walk Out Over Response to Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill
Some of Disney's LGBTQ+ employees planned to walk out of their offices Tuesday in protest of the company and CEO Bob Chapek's response to Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill.
The walkouts were scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in various time zones where Disney properties are located. While it's unclear how many employees participated in any demonstration on Tuesday, TheWrap observed a small group of people outside the Disney property on Riverside Drive in Burbank. The group that organized the walkouts expected to do similar demonstrations throughout the week and a larger, "full walkout" next week.
On Monday afternoon, a Twitter account called @DisneyWalkout surfaced and shared an open letter that said it was signed and organized by LGBTQIA+ employees and their allies, demanding the company "regain the trust" of its LGBTQIA+ staffers. The letter added that it was written in partnership with members across Disney's corporate, Television Animation, Lucasfilm, Pixar and Media and Entertainment Distribution (DMED) sectors, among others.
The open letter and petition shared to a website called whereischapek.com offered employees details, saying they could take part in in-person and virtual walkouts for 15 minutes during their work breaks at 3 p.m. each day between Tuesday and early next week, followed by a full-scale walkout on Tuesday, March 22.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/lgbtqplus-disney-employees-walk-out-over-response-to-floridas-dont-say-gay-bill/ar-AAV6hAY