In a recent court filing, a federal judge dismissed Disney’s lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and members of a state board. The entertainment giant had accused the defendants of retaliating against the company after it criticized the state’s limits on classroom discussion of sexuality in lower grades. However, DeSantis and other defendants successfully argued that Disney couldn’t sue them over constitutionally enacted state laws.
The dispute between Disney and DeSantis’ administration began when the company criticized Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, which was passed in 2022. This law prohibited public schools from engaging in “classroom discussion” or providing “classroom instruction” about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade classrooms, as well as any sexual discussions that contradicted state guidelines in all grades. Critics of the law referred to it as the “don’t say gay” law, and Disney publicly expressed its opposition, stating that the law should never have been passed or signed into law.
Following Disney’s criticism, DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida legislature took action to strip Disney’s control over the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), a special development district that granted the company autonomy over its theme parks, including the Walt Disney World Resort. In 2023, Florida enacted a law to reform the district, renaming it the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The restructured board, consisting of new members appointed by DeSantis, subsequently nullified contracts approved by the Disney-controlled board prior to the changeover.
Disney responded to these actions by filing a lawsuit against the governor and the board members, alleging that they were being punished for their political positions. A Disney spokesperson emphasized the importance of the case, stating that if left unchallenged, it could set a dangerous precedent and allow states to misuse their official powers to suppress political viewpoints they disagree with.
The office of Governor DeSantis has not yet provided a comment on the dismissal of the lawsuit.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
