Disney is escalating its culture war with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis into a legal war.
On Wednesday, Disney sued DeSantis and other state officials for what it claims is political retaliation for its opposition last year to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which prevents some teachers from talking about LGBTQ+ issues or people in school. The lawsuit comes just after the new board DeSantis created to govern Disney’s Orlando resorts nullified state contracts that allowed the company to continue to develop its properties with relative independence.
The lawsuit claims that DeSantis and his allies infringed on the company’s constitutional rights and illegally voided those contracts. “A targeted campaign of government retaliation — orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech — now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights,” the complaint states.
The fight accelerated last month when it came to light that, just before the DeSantis-appointed board was due to take over, Disney had managed to quietly disenfranchise the new board without DeSantis allies taking notice. DeSantis, who is expected to announce a 2024 presidential bid in the coming weeks, has continued to clamp down on Disney, seeking to make an example of it as a “woke corporation” that has gone too far in embracing progressive racial and social justice policies.
In addition to pushing the board to nullify Disney’s contract, DeSantis has proposed legislation to require additional inspections at Disney theme park rides and its monorail connecting its hotels and theme parks. Apparently hinting at other ways he would punish Disney, he has also suggested the new state board could convert land in and around the Orlando theme parks into a state park, a competing amusement park, or even a state prison — and that the board should investigate raising…
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