Disney is Threatening to Cease Filming

[RNally1301]

Did anyone see the news happening in Georgia? Walt Disney Studios is threatening to cease filming if a bill which could hinder LGBT rights is signed into law. Here is the article from the LA Times for reference.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...t-disney-georgia-anti-gay-20160323-story.html

What are people's thoughts? I'd love to get a conversation going!

 

[rteetz]

Just a friendly reminder that political discussions are not allowed on the Disboards.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm happy to see that Disney is taking a position on this. How Georgia responds remains to be seen.

 

[PortMickey]

Nice to see Disney stand up for human rights in Georgia...now hurry up and finish that theme park in communist China...where they understand every dollar, I mean every voice matters!

 

[Shanti]

Good for Disney on this one.

 

[RNally1301]

Nothing political here. I personally found it awesome to see Disney take such a public stance on this human rights issue. However, I can't help wonder if it's just for publicity sake. Has there been any cases before where Disney took such a drastic stance like this? My memory is escaping me lol.

 

[Tom P.]

Nice to see Disney stand up for human rights in Georgia...now hurry up and finish that theme park in communist China...where they understand every dollar, I mean every voice matters!

Amen. I understand there is a legitimate argument to be had about laws like the one in Georgia. But to argue that you can't do business in Georgia because of human rights issues, and then to pump tens of billions of dollars into the economy of China... that's just a tad hypocritical. China's horrid human rights abuses are also why I would never visit Shanghai Disney, no matter how awesome it's supposed to be.

 

[pixie921]

It's not "human rights" to force a pastor to marry a couple, gay or straight, if he believes that it would violate deeply held religious beliefs. The Constitution affords him protection from that. There are other options rather than to FORCE people to do something. This isn't a fascist state (yet). When I see mosques being forced to marry non-Muslims or gays, or Islamic halls being forced to hold BBQ fundraisers, I'll believe this isn't politically motivated. Otherwise it's just attacking Christianity, and our Constitution forbids that.

 

[Travis B]

It's not "human rights" to force a pastor to marry a couple, gay or straight, if he believes that it would violate deeply held religious beliefs. The Constitution affords him protection from that. There are other options rather than to FORCE people to do something. This isn't a fascist state (yet). When I see mosques being forced to marry non-Muslims or gays, or Islamic halls being forced to hold BBQ fundraisers, I'll believe this isn't politically motivated. Otherwise it's just attacking Christianity, and our Constitution forbids that.

If I understand correctly, the criticism of this bill is less about the marriage issue (although that was the initial purpose of the bill) and more about the fact the way it's written could be interpreted quite widely. The worry is that a business or even a hospital, because they have a religious base, could deny services to gay people because they could argue it is against their religion. I think it is apparent how that could be problematic and discriminatory. I'm not responding because I want to debate, and frankly I agree with you. I don't think clergy should be forced to perform ceremonies against their conscience or beliefs. If I understand correctly clergy is already protected under the law and can do as they choose in terms of such things. Anyway, like I said, I'm not looking to debate, and I don't disagree with your opinion. I just want to make it clear that criticism of this bill is less about the belief that clergy should be forced to perform gay marriages against their will, and more about the belief that a religious hospital should not be able to deny treatment to a gay person because of their beliefs. I don't want to you feel attacked by the criticism of this bill, because that's not what it's about.

 

[larandtra1990]

Curious as to whether or not Disney will also inform Texas, Lousiana, Colorado, Tennessee, North Carolina, etc. etc. all states with the same laws Georgia is wanting to pass, already on the books. Try reading the actual bill before overreacting.

 

[Eoghann]

Nothing political here. I personally found it awesome to see Disney take such a public stance on this human rights issue. However, I can't help wonder if it's just for publicity sake. Has there been any cases before where Disney took such a drastic stance like this? My memory is escaping me lol.

Not sure if Disney has done it before though many companies have. Sure it is at least in part a PR thing and yes there's plenty of hypocrisy going around in that company.

Still, I'll take the right action for the wrong reasons over the wrong action...

 

[PBB]

This is just another example that Disney has become media part of a political party. You can see it in the writing of their shows. I stopped watching the TV show Blackish because of several attacks on Chic Fil A restaurants regarding the President of CFA's,Dan Cathy, personal support of the Defense of Marriage Act. Keep in mind, CFA is a privately owned company. Bob Iger is huge supporter of the Democratic Party. He has EVERY right to personally support this political party. However, he is using the assets (including goodwill) of a company that is owned by Stockholders who has views that vary on this issue. It is not the place of Bob Iger, the Board of Directors or the employees to use the assets of Disney for their personal political advancements.

As a citizen of Georgia, I find it offensive that management of a Fortune 500 company has the audacity to openly threaten the government and citizens of a state. The NFL last week threatened to pull the Super Bowl in 2019 over the same piece of legislation. If the legislation that is being considered is against the law then a Judge(s) will stop the law. If the Citizens of Georgia find it offensive then they will replace the representatives who put the law in place and rescind it.

If Disney doesn't want money from the Taxpayers of Georgia, tax breaks, non-union work force that makes Georgia a great place for studios to film movies and TV shows they can go back to Hollywood. I do find it amusing that Disney is willing to become partners with the Communist Government in China and their history of multiple human rights violations, stealing technology of US companies, especially, the copyrights of Disney movies and tv shows. I guess it is ok to work with such a government because it creates a cheap work force!

 

[Slayd]

I would prefer to see a world where Disney takes a neutral stance on politics.

Disney disagrees with the law. The law isn't going to affect Disney. It isn't going to force or push Disney to change anything. I don't get it.

I have to agree with one of the above posters. There are many stockholders of Disney, with many different views. A business exists to make profit, not throw their weight around to attempt to strong-arm governments to pass or void laws they like or don't like. Leave laws up to the people. If the people of Georgia agree with this law, it should pass. If they don't agree, it should not pass. Disney has no place in this decision, however, this is the world we live in. Power to the lobbyists over the people.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Good for Disney.

 

[ChipnDale79]

This is just another example that Disney has become media part of a political party. You can see it in the writing of their shows. I stopped watching the TV show Blackish because of several attacks on Chic Fil A restaurants regarding the President of CFA's,Dan Cathy, personal support of the Defense of Marriage Act. Keep in mind, CFA is a privately owned company. Bob Iger is huge supporter of the Democratic Party. He has EVERY right to personally support this political party. However, he is using the assets (including goodwill) of a company that is owned by Stockholders who has views that vary on this issue. It is not the place of Bob Iger, the Board of Directors or the employees to use the assets of Disney for their personal political advancements.

I don't really want to get too political here, but we stopped going to CFA because we found out that some profits from CFA were being sent to some nasty charities that I just couldn't support. I didn't feel comfortable contributing money to a company that then turned around and used some of the profits from my money that i gave them, to support the type of charities they supported.

We returned to CFA after they stopped supporting some of those charities.

I have no problem with their personal believes, its a free country, and they can believe what they want to. However if the money i give a company is being funneled to something I think its wrong, then I just simply don't feel comfortable giving my money to that company.

Just as much as CFA has the right to support the Defense of Marriage Act, as an American, I too have the right to not support that company for whatever reason I choose.

As a citizen of Georgia, I find it offensive that management of a Fortune 500 company has the audacity to openly threaten the government and citizens of a state. The NFL last week threatened to pull the Super Bowl in 2019 over the same piece of legislation. If the legislation that is being considered is against the law then a Judge(s) will stop the law. If the Citizens of Georgia find it offensive then they will replace the representatives who put the law in place and rescind it.

Companies are doing this because they know that a large part of their customer base will boycott them if they don't take a stand against this. Companies have to be very careful about how they do business these days, many people outside of the south, and even in the south are upset with many of the laws that are being passed.

I hope that wasn't too political, if it was, I apologize.

 

[Smbmoyers]

The truth of the matter is Disney shouldn't be getting involved, period. I get that this issue is important and I think that it's up for the people of Georgia and their elected Government to decide. Corperations like the NFL and Disney need to stay out of discussions like this imo. I don't care what issue it is. Doing business in a state doesn't give you the right to blackmail or threaten said state over possible legislation or laws. If Disney doesn't get the outcome they want there are tons of other states that would be happy to have Disney's business. I will on a personal note add that I believe love is love, and that nobody should be treated unfairly because of who they love.
Isn't love what Disney's all about?

 

[Tom P.]

Companies are doing this because they know that a large part of their customer base will boycott them if they don't take a stand against this. Companies have to be very careful about how they do business these days, many people outside of the south, and even in the south are upset with many of the laws that are being passed.

That a company feels their customer base will boycott them if they don't take a stand on gay marriage, but also feels that same customer base will be okay with them dealing with a government that literally imprisons and kills people for expressing the wrong point of view... that is alarming.

 

[OKW Lover]

Not sure if Disney has done it before though many companies have. Sure it is at least in part a PR thing and yes there's plenty of hypocrisy going around in that company.

Still, I'll take the right action for the wrong reasons over the wrong action...

Or just maybe Disney legitimately thinks that the rights of all people should be respected and is making as much of a statement it can with its corporate muscle - i.e. voting with its wallet. Corporations have the right of free speech as much as individuals in the USA.

 

[ChipnDale79]

That a company feels their customer base will boycott them if they don't take a stand on gay marriage, but also feels that same customer base will be okay with them dealing with a government that literally imprisons and kills people for expressing the wrong point of view... that is alarming.

I don't disagree with that, for some reasons Americans believe its ok to allow our businesses to do business with China. Or if Americans don't believe that, we're not doing anything to stop it. It's sad really.

 

[Tom P.]

Or just maybe Disney legitimately thinks that the rights of all people should be respected...

Then let's see Disney put their money where their mouth is and bail on Shanghai Disney. Sorry, this is my third post in this thread and I'm probably beating a dead horse, but I'm absolutely disgusted that Disney is building that park.