Disney, which recently announced a pause on all donations to state legislators in Florida, has come under fire from women's advocacy group UltraViolet, who urged the media giant to take further actions in support of the LGBTQ+ community and others.
A report revealed 69 percent of political donations from Disney went to lawmakers who were anti-abortion, which the group argued is indicative of legislators' stance on other issues pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community and people of color. Figures show $166,100 of Disney's contributions went to politicians who supported the controversial Parental Rights in Education Bill, better known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, as well as the HB-5 bill, which banned abortions past 15 weeks.
Director of Reproductive Rights campaigns at UltraViolet Sonja Spoo acknowledged Disney's recent actions concerning the "Don't Say Gay" bill controversy but argued the company should demand money back and put it to use in supporting the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.
"Simply pausing donations to all politicians instead of the ones pushing this radical agenda - embodied by the Florida's 'Don’t Say Gay' bill and 15 week abortion ban - misses the point," Spoo stated, going on to add, "Company leadership is well aware of what Disney’s political contributions support, but did nothing, Disney is funding legislation that will actively harm their own employees and consumers alike. They must do more than just pause donations, they should demand money that they gave to these radical politicians be returned, and subsequently donated to people supporting women and the LGBTQ+ community."
She then stated, "If Disney paid attention to the political stances of who it gave to, it would have seen this coming... If you support abortion bans - you are more likely to support attacks on LGBTQ+ kids and more likely to support measures to disenfranchise Black, Indigenous, and other people of color at the ballot box. The legislation passed in Florida are more examples of how these sorts of cruel bills move together and reinforce one another—and how they are all supported by the same people."
The UltraViolet representative concluded, "Disney took an important first step today, but this should only be the beginning. Disney and other companies must evaluate their political stances of who they give to - and start to make decisions aligned with their values, and the real values of the American people."
Source: UltraViolet
Source: Trendz OH
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