Disney employees are walking out to demand more LGBTQ support

A group of Disney employees staged a walkout on Tuesday at locations across the country, demanding the company do more to protect LGBTQ people and protesting that CEO Bob Chapek waited too long to condemn a bill passed by the Florida legislature.

The legislation that sparked the outcry is the Parents Rights in Education bill, which has been dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by critics. If signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, it would prohibit Florida educators from teaching sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

Disney has been under fire from both sides of the political aisle over its response to the bill. It has also come under fire for its operations in China. The National Legal and Policy Center, an ethics watchdog and shareholder, accused the media giant of "complicity in China genocide" at the recent shareholders meeting. 

Initially, the company did not take a public position on the bill, drawing the ire of those opposed to it. Chapek then spoke out against it at a shareholders meeting following its passage, announced a pause on political donations in Florida, and vowed Disney would contribute millions of dollars more to LGBTQ causes. The CEO also said he would meet with DeSantis to express his and Disney's opposition to the legislation.