Disney workers are taking a stand amid the company's response to Florida's controversial Parental Rights in Education Act, which critics have infamously dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill.
On Tuesday, employees staged several walkouts in protest of CEO Bob Chapek's handling of the bill, which passed through the state's legislature and is now awaiting signature from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
If signed, the bill would prohibit classroom discussions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools between kindergarten and third grade.
Chapek, who initially decided not to speak publicly on the matter, opted to work behind the scenes in an attempt to soften the legislation. It didn't work.
The executive eventually reversed course following intense backlash. He publicly denounced the act during the company's annual shareholder meeting on March 9.
Two days later, Chapek went a step further and directly apologized to employees in a company memo, writing in part, "You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry."
But some workers think the gesture was just too little, too late.
"We expect more from the CEO," Nicholas Luis Maldonado, a current Disney employee who participated in Tuesday's walkout, told Yahoo Finance in a recent interview.
"I just want to be proud to say I'm a Disney World employee [again], but at this time right now, I'm just not feeling the Disney magic," he continued.
A Disney spokesperson responded to the walkouts in a statement, writing, "We know how important this issue is for our LGBTQ+ employees, their families and allies, we respect our colleagues’ right to express their views, and we pledge our ongoing support of the LGBTQ+ community in the fight for equal rights."
Early on Tuesday, the company's parks division posted a statement on social media, writing in part, "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 statements follow Monday's all-company virtual town hall (dedicated to issues surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community), in addition to the revelation of a new task force that Disney says will "develop action plans to make more LGBT-aware content for children and family."
The company also unveiled that Chapek and other senior leaders will conduct a global listening tour and meet with employees in the U.S. and internationally.
"It's a step in the right direction by their statement, but so much more is needed to be done beyond today," Maldonado said. He added that he hopes the company holds more town halls and open forums, in addition to further public statements both in support of the community, and "against any future anti-LGBTQ legislation."
David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), told Yahoo Finance that "this is a necessary fight."
The California-based union represents several worker classifications within Disney, including costume and custodial.
"Our members expect Disney to be a good corporate citizen...I think for too long corporate America has been looking after its own interests, and not really understanding the impact that that they have on issues that go beyond the workplace," he said.
Huerta went on to explain that big-name corporations like Disney have a responsibility that extends beyond their core businesses, referencing recent employee fights at Starbucks (SBUX), Amazon (AMZN), Kellogg (K), and Netflix (NFLX).
"I think workers realize that they have more power than then they give themselves credit for," Huerta said.
He added that holding employers accountable is "a damn good thing" that's "long overdue."
"Working people do have power and their power is stronger when they stand together, shoulder to shoulder, than when they stand alone," he concluded.
Alexandra is a Senior Entertainment and Food Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alliecanal8193
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