BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Disney does damage control over ‘Don’t say gay’ fracas

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

(NewsNation) —  For decades, visitors to Disney parks have been greeted by “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,” but not that greeting has been deemed gender-based and will be replaced.

Vivian Ware, diversity and inclusion manager with the Walt Disney Co., said, “We removed all of the gendered greetings in relationship to our live spiels .. So we no longer say ‘Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls..” So, park visitors will now hear “Hello, friends,” “Hello, everyone” or “Dreamers of all ages.”

In a newly leaked video, company executives revealed the changes in a presentation titled “Reimagine Tomorrow.”

This follows a week of outrage over a new Florida law, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, prohibiting instruction covering sexual orientation and gender identity for children in kindergarten through third grade. The bill has drawn protest and comment from around the country, even from the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

Disney workers in Florida and California have walked out in protest of the law. Disney worker Tyler White said, “We need an immediate cease to all involved in supporting and writing this bill.”

After the bill, the House of Mouse released a statement saying, “Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that.”

This statement drew the ire of Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, seen by many as positioning himself for a presidential run in 2024. However, the Walt Disney Company remains a political heavyweight, with pull on both sides of the aisle.

Entertainment

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fair

la

59°F Fair Feels like 59°
Wind
3 mph SE
Humidity
79%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Cloudy skies during the evening with areas of fog developing after midnight. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
51°F Cloudy skies during the evening with areas of fog developing after midnight. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph E
Precip
13%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Crescent