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   From: drooler@gmail.com   
      
   With some workers across the U.S. threatening a walkout Tuesday, The Walt   
   Disney Co. finds itself in a balancing act between the expectations of a   
   diverse workforce and demands from an increasingly polarized, politicized   
   marketplace.   
      
   On one side are LGBTQ advocates and Disney employees calling for a walkout   
   in protest of CEO Bob Chapek's slow response in publicly criticizing   
   Florida legislation dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The legislation,   
   officially called the "Parental Rights in Education," bars instruction on   
   sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.   
   It would also let parents sue school districts that violate those   
   restrictions.   
      
   The measure passed the Florida senate earlier this week and is expected to   
   be signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who supports the bill. DeSantis   
   is viewed as a likely Republican presidential candidate in 2024.   
      
   On the other side of the dispute are politicians like DeSantis, who accuse   
   Disney of bending to cancel culture after a Disney decision to temporarily   
   suspend political contributions in the state.   
      
   Chapek, who became Disney's CEO in 2020, has drawn fire for speaking out   
   about the gender identity bill only after it passed the Florida   
   Legislature. Disney opposed the bill from the start, but thought it best   
   to oppose it behind the scenes, according to Chapek, who said he called   
   DeSantis to express "concern that if the legislation becomes law, it could   
   be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, non-binary and transgender kids   
   and families."   
      
   After Chapek came out publicly against the measure at Disney's annual   
   shareholder meeting earlier this month, DeSantis lashed out at the   
   entertainment giant, one of Florida's largest employers. According to   
   Disney's conservative critics, the company should focus on making profits   
   rather than involve itself in the fight over the bill.   
      
   Evan Power, the Republican Party chairman in Leon County, said he believes   
   a strident minority of Disney employees are pushing the issue and that   
   DeSantis has more to gain by taking the side of parents who want more   
   control over education and "sexual conversations" in early grades at   
   school.   
      
   "I think it pays dividends with parents across the state of Florida   
   regardless of political divisions," Power said.   
      
   Officials for the unions that represent tens of thousands of workers at   
   Disney theme parks in Florida and Anaheim, California — including the   
   hundreds of costumed performers who portray Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and   
   Stitch at Walt Disney World — said there didn't appear to be any momentum   
   for a walkout.   
      
   "We are not in support of that," Romualdas Dulskis, a Teamsters official   
   in Orlando whose local represents costumed characters, bus drivers and   
   other Disney workers, said Monday. "That's just not the way we are going   
   to go about this."   
      
   Union leaders said they had advised their members not to participate   
   because their contract prohibits work stoppages or disruptions.   
      
   "I don't want to downplay anyone's efforts, if someone feels what they are   
   doing is the right way to make an impact," said Eric Clinton, president of   
   Unite Here! Local 362, which represents custodians, housekeepers and other   
   Disney World theme park workers. "We aren't part of that. It would violate   
   our contract if members of our union participated, though we are concerned   
   about the issue, of course."   
      
   One of the organizers of the walkout, a New York-based employee, said they   
   were expecting more participation from Disney workers in production,   
   marketing, IT and other desk jobs than those in hourly, union jobs. The   
   worker spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted   
   online and because organizers didn't want a single organizer taking the   
   spotlight.   
      
   Part of the goal of the walkout is for those workers with the "privilege"   
   to be able to protest to stand up for those who can't, the New York   
   employee said.   
      
   ESPN employees protest bill   
   The legislation, described as "hateful" by President Biden and U.S.   
   Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, has triggered protests from LGBTQ   
   advocates across the country and students at middle and high schools in   
   Florida where walkouts over the bill have also taken place.   
      
   Employees at Disney-owned ESPN continue to stand with their Disney   
   coworkers in protesting the Florida legislation, having staged numerous   
   walkouts over the past week. Several ESPN announcers also have observed   
   moments of silence on-air during game coverage, in protest of the bill.   
   The first to do so were ESPN commentators Carolyn Peck and Courtney Lyle   
   during the Women's NCAA Tournament. After voicing their solidarity with   
   their colleagues in Florida in opposition of the bill, the two stayed   
   silent for twoo minutes, the Washington Post reported.   
      
   Disney workers participating in the March 22 walkout plan to meet up with   
   each other at locations in Orlando, New York City, Anaheim and Burbank,   
   California, where the company is headquartered. A Disney spokesman didn't   
   respond to an email seeking comment. Instead, the company released a   
   statement on the Disney Parks official Instagram condemning the "Parental   
   Rights in Education" legislation indirectly.   
      
   "Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products is committed to creating   
   experiences that support family values for every family, and will not   
   stand for discrimination in any form. We oppose any legislation that   
   infringes on basic human rights, and stand in solidarity and support our   
   LGBTQIA+ Cast, Crew, and Imagineers and fans who make their voices heard   
   today and every day," the statement read.   
      
   Disney employed 190,000 workers as of last October, with roughly three-   
   quarters working in its theme parks division.   
      
   Disney, whose movies and properties shaped generations of children around   
   the world, has spoken out several times in recent years about contentious   
   social and political situations.   
      
   It was one of a slew of U.S. companies that in January 2021 said it would   
   suspend political donations to lawmakers who voted against certifying   
   President Joe Biden's electoral victory. It also spoke out early against a   
   2016 anti-gay bill in Georgia, threatening to pull its business from the   
   state, which has become a favorite of movie and TV studios. The bill was   
   vetoed by Georgia's then-governor.   
      
   History of involvement in social issues   
   And the company has not been immune to changing societal expectations. It   
   has said it would revamp the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean and   
   Splash Mountain rides at its theme parks to remove racist and sexist   
   elements and put short warnings in front of some of its classic movies on   
   its streaming service, Disney+, alerting viewers to "outdated cultural   
   depictions.   
      
   Republican lawmakers pushing the Florida legislation had argued that   
      
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