The Florida Senate has passed a bill that would dissolve Walt Disney World‘s special district in the state, which allows the Walt Disney Company to self-govern in its theme park area.
Lawmakers passed the bill on Wednesday (20 April), backing the measure in a 23-16 vote. It now requires a vote in the state House before it can be passed to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, ABC News reports.
The attempt to eliminate Disney’s district comes after the company’s decision to oppose Florida’s controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, formally known as the ‘Parental Rights in Education’ bill.
Signed into law by DeSantis in late March, it bans discussions of “sexual orientation or gender identity” with students at certain grade levels.
The legislation would terminate Disney‘s district, known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, on 1 June 2023. The special status was granted by a state law in 1967.
Bill to strip Disney’s self-governing status
The company controls approximately 25,000 acres in the Orlando area, overseeing its own land and environmental protections, and providing emergency medical services and fire protection.
“Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law,” the Walt Disney Company said in a statement on 28 March.
“Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that.”
“We are dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country,” Disney added.
Prior to that, Disney CEO Bob Chapek apologised for the company’s “silence” on the bill. “You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down,” Chapek said. “I am sorry.”
Images: Disney
