ORLANDO, Fla. — The Walt Disney Co. donated $125,000 to the Republican Party of Florida at the beginning of this year’s legislative session, according to new filings with the state.
That session ended last month with Disney as public enemy number one for many Republicans after CEO Bob Chapek announced his opposition to the so-called “don’t say gay” bill.
Chapek paused all political donations in Florida in March after taking heat from LGBTQ groups for his relative silence on the bill, which was later signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The law prohibits classroom instruction on “sexual orientation or gender identity” in grades kindergarten through three or in a manner that is not “age appropriate” for higher grades. Republicans say it protects parents’ rights, but opponents have criticized it as intentionally vague and targeting the gay community.
Before this year, Disney had given about $55 million to Republicans, Democrats and political committees in the state over the past 28 years, including about $5 million in 2020 and more than $2 million in 2021, state records show.
The company had also given more than $100,000 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC since 2019.
Before the pause this year, in addition to the Florida GOP contribution Disney also gave $25,000 to the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign.
Its political committee contributions, however, tilted right. The company gave $25,000 to the political group Conservatives for a Better Florida, $25,000 to the conservative group Advancing Florida Agriculture and $10,000 to Republican state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ affiliated group Treasure Florida.
In the weeks after Chapek’s announcement, in which he apologized to employees and promised to oppose similar bills in other states, the company has been a target of Republican ire.
DeSantis said he was “receptive” to changing Disney’s self-governing Reedy Creek district in Central Florida, while two GOP congressional candidates joined protesters at Walt Disney World on Saturday.
Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Helen Aguirre Ferre, executive director for the state GOP, also could not be reached.
