AHF Keeps Up Pressure on Disney to Denounce FL’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

LGBTQ+ advocates and supporters will again protest Disney in caravans around Disney’s Orlando campus Tuesday, March 8 thru Friday, March 11 @ 9:00 a.m. and in Burbank Tuesday, March 8 @ 8:30 a.m.

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Florida citizens await the final vote on HB1557, widely known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, AHF, is continuing pressure on Disney through a week of protest in Orlando, following rallies of hundreds of LGBTQ+ advocates and supporters last Thursday in Orlando and Burbank, CA to urge the company to speak out publicly to oppose this divisive legislation. Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, March 8th through Friday, March 11th, advocates will meet at 9:00am (EST) at 12172 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando and caravan around the Disney Orlando property, demanding that executives speak out against the proposed bill.

ORLANDO:
WHAT:	LGBTQIA+ advocates and supporters lead caravan around Disney ORLANDO, FL properties to demand executives to speak out against the proposed “Don’t Say Gay” legislation pending in Florida
WHEN:	Tuesday, March 8, 2022 – Friday, March 11, 2022
	9:00am (EST) – Advocates meet at 12172 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando
	9:00am (EST) – 9:30am (EST) – Caravan around Disney Properties
WHERE:	Meet at Chilli’s Bar & Grill, 12172 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, Florida
	Note: Exact caravan route to be given on site
WHO:	30-50 cars with LGBTQIA+ advocates from around the state of Florida

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ebonni Chrispin, Legislative Affairs and Community Engagement Manager for AHF +1.954.298.4699 mobile [e-mail]
W. Imara Canady, National Direrctor, Communications & Community Engagement for AHF +1.770.940.6555 [cell] [e-mail]

BURBANK:	AHF will also continue protests at Walt Disney’s main corporate headquarters in Burbank, California, scheduled for Tuesday, March 8^th
WHAT:	BURBANK, CA—Walt Disney Co. (Alameda Ave Gate) 2300 Alameda Ave Burbank, CA 91506
WHO:	25+ community advocates and AHF mobilizers with placards and banners

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications, AHF +1.323.791.5526 [cell] [e-mail]
Eduardo Martinez, AHF Advocacy Manager, +1.323.531.8511 [cell] [e-mail]

To date, Disney, which has thousands of LGBTQ+ employees and regularly participates with large contingents in Pride parades in both Orlando and Los Angeles, has been publicly silent on the legislation. This, despite its Disney Parks, Experiences & Products website (DPEP.Disney.com) claiming: “As a leader in LGBTQ+ content and workplace equality, the Walt Disney Company is committed to creating inclusive workplaces and supportive and welcoming environments in local communities.”

Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell also noted last week that “The parks preach inclusion in their marketing campaigns. But Disney has given money to every single sponsor and co-sponsor of this year’s infamous ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.”

As part of the campaign, AHF rolled out a new TV ad campaign in the greater Orlando area urging the Walt Disney Company to speak out publicly and loudly in opposition to the hateful “Don’t Say Gay" bill (FL’s HB1557 and SB1834). AHF’s 30-second spot will run on stations WOFL (FOX), WKMG (CBS), WESH (NBC) and WFTV (ABC) starting today.

AHF’s TV spot urges Disney to speak out and fight back against discrimination by publicly opposing the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, concluding “… because the happiest place in the world must have a place for every child.”

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.7 million clients in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare