Florida lawmakers in March passed HB 1557, dubbed by opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 28.
That same day, Disney waded
deeply into the controversy, issuing a statement highly critical of HB 1557 and saying it was the company’s objective to have it repealed.
From March 28, the day the company issued the statement, to April 22, Disney’s market cap has fallen by around $33.9 billion.
Backers of the legislation say it gives parents more power around deciding how and when topics relating to LGBTQ issues can be introduced to their children. It also gives parents the opportunity to sue school districts for violations of the rules set out in the legislation.
“Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards,” the bill (pdf) reads.
DeSantis said on March 28, the day he signed the bill, that “parents have every right to be informed about services offered to their child at school, and should be protected from schools using classroom instruction to sexualize their kids as young as 5 years old.”
On the same day that DeSantis signed the bill, Disney issued a statement saying that “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.”
Disney added that it was the company’s goal “for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts.”
Disney’s declaration of opposition to the bill prompted some parents’ groups to call for boycotts of the company’s products, movies, theme parks, and shows.
Based on 1.82 billion outstanding shares and on the March 28 share price of $136.90, Disney’s market cap stood at some $249.2 billion. With its shares having fallen to $118.27 on April 22, Disney’s value as measured by market capitalization has declined to $215.3 billion, a drop of $33.9 billion.
On April 22, DeSantis signed a legislature-passed bill to dissolve Walt Disney World’s self-governing status in Florida, with potential tax implications for the company.
DeSantis on Friday made reference to Disney’s pledge to have HB 1557 repealed.
