THE
| CORSAIR
6
A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
April 6, 2022
Activists Walk-Out as Disney Meanders port against the bill. Washington posted a Tweet expressing her support for the walkout, saying, “I don’t condone the actions or inactions of Disney at this moment. I wholeheartedly support the LGBTQIA+ employees, and stand with them in this walk out today. Please know that you matter. Your rights matter. Your voices matter. I encourage you all to help their voices ring louder today.” In addition, Gad tweeted “To all of my friends in the LGBTQ community & those under the wide and diverse Disney banner, I love you. I stand with you and I have your back. Everyone should feel heard, safe & protected.” Union, whose stepdaughter is transgender, mentioned at the premiere for her remake of Cheaper by the Dozen, “We need to own that if Illustration by Aaron Schuchman you truly are taking stands against hate and oppression, you should not fund hate and oppression. Period.” Aaron Schuchman | Design Editor Santa Monica College (SMC) stuhe Walt Disney Company’s dents also spoke out against the response to Florida’s Pa- legislation. Holden Douglas, who is rental Rights in Education a Santa Monica College (SMC) SophBill, which critics named the omore and Media Studies major felt “Don’t Say Gay” law, recieved strong that, “Certain discrimination hapreactions from on-screen Disney pens in America because there’s a stars. The bill, known as HB 1557, was higher authority who wants to show signed into law by Florida Governor what they can do.” Holden praised the Ron Desantis on March 28, 2022 and leading figures of the walkout, saying “Certain figures such as actors and goes into effect on July 1, 2022. It’s goal is to restrict classroom celebrities walking off set in response instruction on sexual orientation to an anti-LGBTQ+ act such as this and gender-identity. Desantis said one shows how powerful their voices can be. This goes in a Miami Herald Article that the goal of “This type of an- to show that these celebrities are able to HB 1557 is “to provide protection for parents ti-LGBTQ+ discrim- take a stand and make and enforce parents’ ination is terrifying their case stronger.” Regarding the rights over the educain many ways since “Don’t Say Gay” bill, tion of their children to prevent a trend of it is an attempt to Dr. Yamissette West“sexualizing children,” move backwards." erband, an SMC Gender Studies Professor that he claimed is runand faculty advisor ning rampant in other states.” In protest of Disney’s inaction, hundreds of for SMC's Gender Sexuality Alliance Disney employees were reported to Club said “This type of anti-LGBTQ+ have staged a walkout from Disney’s discrimination is terrifying in many headquarters in Burbank, Calif., on ways since it is an attempt to move backwards." Dr. Westerband went on March 22, according to CSNBC. Raven Symone, star of the Disney to say, "Histories have been silenced channel hit “Raven’s Home” spoke and since our society has made progout via social media in response to the ress, this type of act makes it now feel Florida law. A March 22 clip from Ra- like we’re being policed.” Like Holdven’s Instagram showcased the for- en, Westerband applauded the work mer “That’s So Raven” star encour- of activists, saying “Social media as aging viewers to “support, support, well as walkouts to fight this legislasupport” the movement to block the tion show that society has the power legislation. Besides Symone, other to fight back, and political voices are Disney Stars including Kerry Wash- strong enough to resist this.” ington from Cars 3, Frozen’s Josh Gad, and Cheaper by the Dozen’s Gabrielle Union took to other platforms such as Twitter to express their sup-
T
