Florida finally approved this Thursday a legislative project to eliminate the self-government of the Disney megacorporation, established for more than half a century.
The state House of Representatives approved the proposal that the Senate validated a day earlier to dissolve the private government of Walt Disney World, marking a victory for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in his confrontation with the powerful entertainment company.
All that is missing is DeSantis' signature to officially turn the bill into law, which is just a matter of paperwork. The governor advocatedthis week for the Legislature to approve the initiative.
On Wednesday, the state Senate had given its approval to the project that will repeal the self-government that was approved in 1967 in six special districts in Florida, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District, operated by Disney.
The bill proposes that “any independent special district established by a special law before the date of ratification of the Florida Constitution on November 5, 1968, and which was not reestablished, re-ratified or otherwise reconstituted by a law special law or general law after November 5, 1968, is dissolved as of June 1, 2023".
Disney employs about 60,000 people in the state of Florida. Reedy Creek Improvement District, where the entertainment giant is based, is a special district that covers about 100 square kilometers between Osceola and Orange counties, in the center of the state.
As an independent district, Walt Disney World is allowed to have its own police and fire department, among other concessions.
DeSantis and the entertainment giant disagreed over criticism the company made after the enactment ofthe "Don't Say Gay" law by the governor of Florida, last March.
The law, which is officially known as “Parental Rights in Education,” prohibits teachers in schools in that state from educating about sexuality and gender identity until third grade.
On this point, Disney considered that this rule “should never have been approved,” while apologizing to its employees for having remained silent and choosing to campaign against the law “behind the curtains.”
Before the law was enacted, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced the cancellation of the company's large political donations in Florida, which even affect DeSantis himself.
Roy P. Disney, Walt Disney's great-nephew and co-founder of Walt Disney Co., said of this law that “equality matters deeply to us, especially because our daughter, Charlee, is transgender and I am proud of the LGBTQ community.”
Despite countless criticisms, the governor of Florida did not give up his efforts. “I don't care what the corporate media says, I don't care what Hollywood says, I don't care what the big corporations say, here I am. "I'm not going to back down," DeSantis said.
Also the president of the United States, Joe Biden, expressed his disagreement with DeSantis' initiative.
The president noted that he wanted to let “all members of the LGBTQI+ community, especially the children who will be affected by this hateful bill, know that they are loved and accepted just as they are. “I will protect you and my administration will continue to fight for the protections and security you deserve.”
As soon as DeSantis signs the law against Disney, Florida is expected to face several lawsuits in state and federal courts.
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