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The Magic Kingdom is all in on the LGBTQIA+ cause in America, but that support will not extend to its seventh theme park destination in the United Arab Emirates — where practicing homosexuality and cross-dressing will land you in prison.
Three years ago, the Walt Disney Company lectured the state of Florida for passing its Parental Rights in Education law, slandering it as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. But now, it appears Disney is more than happy to stay silent on homosexuality — as long as doing so protects foreign profits.
Disney initially stayed quiet on Florida’s law, which, contrary to what opponents claimed, didn’t ban poor little Johnny from talking about his gay parents. Rather, the law prohibited classroom instruction, not casual conversations, about sexual orientation, gender identity, or other sexual topics in kindergarten through third grade. That’s five- to eight-year-olds.
The law also required schools to notify parents if their child used any physical, mental, or emotional health services available at school, and it affirmed the right of parents to refuse those services. This provision followed revelations that schools had placed students on “gender support plans” without parental knowledge or consent.
Then the LGBT mob got mad, and Disney flagellated itself, issuing public statements, pushing for the repeal of the law, and pledging millions to pro-LGBT organizations.
None of this was surprising, especially after leaked video footage showed Disney executives and employees discussing the company’s “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative — a corporate policy designed to ensure that “at least 50 percent of Disney’s characters are from underrepresented groups.”
The training featured employees talking openly about their “gay agenda” — including efforts to add “queerness” and “queer” characters to children’s shows and the push to feature LGBTQIA+ characters as leads in Disney media.
Well, it seems those supposedly deeply held values stop at the U.S. border.
On May 7, Disney announced an agreement to build a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where homosexuality is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Not only that, but a man dressing as a woman or wearing women’s clothing could face up to one year behind bars.
Still it’s hard to resist a fat payday. Reportedly, the UAE — along with the state-backed company Miral — will pay the entire cost of development, $10 billion.
Ironically in 2022, the UAE banned Disney’s “Lightyear” from theaters because it featured a kiss between two female characters.
Yet somehow, Disney CEO Bob Iger’s gushing statement about Abu Dhabi’s culture didn’t include any mention of bigotry.
“[T]his is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity. As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways. Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati — an oasis of extraordinary Disney entertainment at this crossroads of the world that will bring to life our timeless characters and stories in many new ways and will become a source of joy and inspiration for the people of this vast region to enjoy for generations to come.”
“Authentically Disney,” huh?
Maybe he means “authentically” as in what Disney used to be — before wokeness carved out everything of value from the once-great company.
Although, these days, virtue-signaling for left-wing causes in the U.S. and then selling out for a paycheck is basically Disney’s brand.
Take racism and slavery.
Disney has spent years lecturing the United States on its past while promoting tenets of Critical Race Theory — including through its Disney+ series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, which talked about “white fragility,” toppling monuments, systemic racism, reparations, and even claimed that Abraham Lincoln didn’t care about freeing the slaves.
Disney also has removed older content or issued warnings on classic content for containing “racial stereotypes.”
That concern over racism and slavery from 150 years ago doesn’t seem to extend past U.S. borders. Disney has no problem building theme parks and making movies in China, which currently enslaves more than a million Uyghurs.
The company received criticism for filming its live-action remake of “Mulan” in Xinxiang where China operates reeducation camps and uses Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities for forced labor.
Even worse, Disney thanked government agencies in Xinxiang in the film credits.
And then there’s Disney’s supposed value of “reproductive autonomy.”
After the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, returning abortion law to states, Disney sent a memo to employees stating it would pay for employees to travel out of state to get an abortion.
“Our company remains committed to removing barriers and providing comprehensive access to quality and affordable care for all of our employees, cast members and their families, including family planning and reproductive care, no matter where they live,” the memo stated.
“In fact we have processes in place so that an employee who may be unable to access care in one location has affordable coverage for receiving similar levels of care in another location. This travel benefit covers medical situations related to cancer treatments, transplants, rare disease treatment and family planning (including pregnancy-related decisions).”
That’s odd since in Xinxiang, the Chinese government forcibly sterilizes women and also forces them to get abortions.
In the UAE, a couple has to get a medical review board to approve an abortion. What about a woman’s right to choose?
Leftist politicians and woke companies don’t actually believe what they’re selling. Remember the pigs in George Orwell’s Animal Farm? After convincing the other animals to reject anything human, the pigs then slept in beds, walked on two legs, drank alcohol, wore clothes, and carried whips.
The pigs broke all the commandments they handed down to the other animals; most famously, they changed the first commandment from “All animals are equal” to “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
It’s the same reason why leftist politicians, business executives, and celebrities lecture Americans about the climate and demand we give up gas-powered cars — while they fly private jets around the nation and the globe.
It’s why politicians tell us we must commit economic suicide by enacting environmental regulations to stop the seas from rising, while they buy mansions on the coast.
It’s why teachers’ union executives rant and rave about the evils of school choice but send their own children to private schools.
Disney supports LGBT initiatives in America because it suits their purposes. It earns praise from Western elites and it undermines Judeo-Christian values.
But that support ends right where it stops them from making money abroad.
Disney may decry laws that ban teaching five-year-olds about sex or telling them they are in the wrong body in the United States, but you can be sure Disney won’t be “Saying Gay” in its new park.
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