DeSantis’ Disney World district drops diversity, equity programs

KARAH RUCKER: THE SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT GOVERNS THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN FLORIDA ANNOUNCED TUESDAY IT WAS ENDING ITS DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS, A DECISION THAT IS FIRMLY IN LINE WITH FLORIDA GOV. RON DESANTIS AND HIS EFFORTS TO LIMIT SUCH MEASURES IN AREAS LIKE HIGHER EDUCATION. 

THE BOARD OF THE CENTRAL FLORIDA TOURISM OVERSIGHT DISTRICT, WHICH WAS APPOINTED BY DESANTIS AFTER A BITTER DISPUTE WITH DISNEY, SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE DISTRICT’S D.E.I. COMMITTEE WOULD BE DISSOLVED – CALLING THEIR INITIATIVES QUOTE– “ILLEGAL AND SIMPLY UN-AMERICAN.” IT SAID ANY JOBS ASSOCIATED WITH THE D.E.I. COMMITTEE WOULD BE ELIMINATED AND CONSIDERATIONS OF GENDER OR RACIAL PARITY WOULD NO LONGER FACTOR INTO THE AWARDING OF CONTRACTS. 

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TARGETING D.E.I. PROGRAMS. IN TEXAS, STATE LEGISLATORS ELIMINATED DIVERSITY OFFICES AND TRAINING AT PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES. AND MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER STATES, INCLUDING TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA, HAVE PROPOSED BILLS TARGETING DIVERSITY PROGRAMS. IN MAY, DESANTIS SIGNED A BILL THAT LARGELY BANS PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES FROM SPENDING MONEY ON SUCH INITIATIVES. 

THE FEUD BETWEEN DESANTIS AND DISNEY WORLD FLARED UP LAST YEAR WHEN THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION ACT. THE ACT, WHICH CRITICS OFTEN REFER TO AS THE ‘DON’T SAY GAY’ BILL, PROHIBITS THE DISCUSSION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY IN SCHOOLS. 

DESANTIS, WHO IS RUNNING FOR REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT, HAS HIGHLIGHTED BOTH HIS ‘ANTI-WOKE’ AND ‘ANTI-CORPORATE’ AGENDA ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. NATIONAL POLLS HAVE HIM TRAILING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BY A LARGE MARGIN.