Kulturkampf shakes up Disney World – Economy

Basically, nothing happened in Florida – except that the Walt Disney Company will soon be a completely normal company: in the future it will be subject to the same laws as all other companies between Jacksonville and Key West, it pays the same taxes and must meet the same requirements that they must be considered if they want to Building a new hotel. However, the decision by the Republican-dominated state legislature in Tallahassee is nothing short of a revolution highlighting the Kulturkampf in the US in a way no film studio could: A company takes a stand against the perceived anti-gay law — and the company’s friendly Ronald Reagan party , retaliates by depriving this company of all its privileges. Welcome to 21st Century America.

what is he talking about? With 80,000 employees, Disney is the largest private employer in Florida, and the theme parks attract millions of tourists each year who spend billions of dollars in the “Sunshine State.” To make this possible, the state of Disney granted rights in 1967 that almost no other company in the world has: since then, the group has resided in a specially created state area, about 100 square kilometers southwest of Orlando, much the same. The government, with its many taxes and building regulations, runs the water and electricity works as well as the authorities and security agencies.

For decades, both have benefited from nation-within-a-state building—until the state legislature recently passed what critics call the Don’t Say ‘Gay’ Act, which prohibits Florida schools from asking children through third grade any questions about it and explain gender identity and orientation This is based on the belief that only young people today often struggle with their identity or “become gay” because liberal educators talk about homosexuality.

CEO Chapek for a long time tried to avoid commenting on the topic

Disney president Bob Chapek has long refused to comment on the law — knowing full well that companies that take a stand on social and political issues quickly face calls for boycotts and other problems. However, under pressure from the workforce, the company spoke out and declared that the law was inconsistent with its values ​​and should be “returned by Parliament or repealed by the courts”. In addition, Disney will stop all donations to state politicians for the time being.

Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, a kind of smarter version of the populist Donald Trump, immediately saw an opportunity to further polish his image as a strong conservative beyond Florida’s borders. According to polls, the 43-year-old would currently be the most promising Republican candidate for the presidency if Trump did not run for re-election in 2024. The governor pushed through a law in summary proceedings that dissolved all Florida special districts created before 1968 Which, after the Senate, is now approved by the House of Representatives. “Disney is a guest in Florida,” Congressman Randy Fine said before the vote. “We remind them of that day.” To enact the law and turn Disney into a completely ordinary company, only one person needs to sign it: Ron DeSantis.