As of Wednesday, March 30, Republicans are absolutely demolishing trans rights. Given our ongoing coverage, it would be fair to wonder what else is possibly new, but things are particularly dark today. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma has just signed an anti-trans sports bill into law effective immediately, making Oklahoma the 13th state to enact such a ban. In Arizona, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey just signed two anti-trans bills, SB 1138 and SB 1165, into law. The first bill bans gender-affirming surgeries for people under 18 (who generally do receive such medical care, anyway), and the second bans trans youth from participating in public school sports on the teams that align with their gender identities.
Within the last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis not only signed the hateful, discriminatory Don’t Say Gay bill into law (while surrounded by children) but doubled down on it by calling out Walt Disney Company, saying it “crossed the line” with its opposition to the law.
RELATED: Most adults in the U.S. support trans rights, but right-wing news consumers are being brainwashed
On Monday, a Disney spokesperson said in a statement shared from the company’s account on Twitter, “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as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country,” and that the company’s goal is for “this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that.”
Of course, DeSantis isn’t too happy to hear that.
"For Disney to come out and put a statement and say that the bill should have never passed and that they are going to actively work to repeal it, I think, one, was fundamentally dishonest, but, two, I think that crossed the line," DeSantis told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. He went on to assert that Florida is not run by “California corporate executives,” but by the people of Florida, which is odd, to say the least!
DeSantis also alleged that according to Chris Sprowls, a Republican who serves as Florida state House Speaker, Disney didn’t contact the state or try to resist the legislation before it was signed into law.
“They didn't seem to have a problem with it when it was going through,” DeSantis said. “This was such an affront. Why weren't they speaking up at the outset?” He continued by saying that Disney’s promise to work to repeal the law is crossing the line.
You might recall that Disney faced intense (and deserved) criticism for its initial silence on the Don’t Say Gay Bill, and CEO Bob Chapek came forward to issue an apology. The company paused donations to all political parties in the state for the time being.
“Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law,” a statement from the company said on Monday. “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.”
Folks are speaking out on social media with humor because, at this point, it’s very needed.
Things are hard for trans folks right now, and we absolutely need progressives at all levels of office to take a serious stand here. Feeling overwhelmed as to where to start? Check out some of our tips on how to be an effective ally and how to show up for trans people in your life. And remember: Vote!
Sign the petition: Demand the Senate pass the Equality Act and protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination.
Within the last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis not only signed the hateful, discriminatory Don’t Say Gay bill into law (while surrounded by children) but doubled down on it by calling out Walt Disney Company, saying it “crossed the line” with its opposition to the law.
RELATED: Most adults in the U.S. support trans rights, but right-wing news consumers are being brainwashed
On Monday, a Disney spokesperson said in a statement shared from the company’s account on Twitter, “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,” and that the company’s goal 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.”
Of course, DeSantis isn’t too happy to hear that.
"For Disney to come out and put a statement and say that the bill should have never passed and that they are going to actively work to repeal it, I think, one, was fundamentally dishonest, but, two, I think that crossed the line," DeSantis told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. He went on to assert that Florida is not run by “California corporate executives,” but by the people of Florida, which is odd, to say the least!
DeSantis also alleged that according to Chris Sprowls, a Republican who serves as Florida state House Speaker, Disney didn’t contact the state or try to resist the legislation before it was signed into law.
“They didn't seem to have a problem with it when it was going through,” DeSantis said. “This was such an affront. Why weren't they speaking up at the outset?” He continued by saying that Disney’s promise to work to repeal the law is crossing the line.
You might recall that Disney faced intense (and deserved) criticism for its initial silence on the Don’t Say Gay Bill, and CEO Bob Chapek came forward to issue an apology. The company paused donations to all political parties in the state for the time being.
“Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law,” a statement from the company said on Monday. “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.”
Folks are speaking out on social media with humor because, at this point, it’s very needed.
Things are hard for trans folks right now, and we absolutely need progressives at all levels of office to take a serious stand here. Feeling overwhelmed as to where to start? Check out some of our tips on how to be an effective ally and how to show up for trans people in your life. And remember: Vote!
Sign the petition: Demand the Senate pass the Equality Act and protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination.