Originally published May 1, 2023 2:00 am PDT
The feud between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and Disney has taken a new turn as the board appointed by DeSantis to oversee the company’s operations in the state announced plans to file a lawsuit against the entertainment behemoth, according to a report from The Hill.
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, chaired by Martin Garcia, revealed its intention to take legal action in response to Disney’s federal lawsuit against the state filed last week.
Disney had accused Florida of unjust retaliation following the company’s public disapproval of the state’s controversial legislation, which the left-wing have inaccurately called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
The legislation prohibits teaching and discussion of gender identity and sexuality in younger grades within public schools.
Disney’s opposition to the law was met with harsh criticism from DeSantis, who labeled the company as a “woke corporation.”
Garcia declared the board’s stance at a meeting on Monday, stating, “Disney sued us, we have no choice now but to respond.”
He went on to add, “The district will seek justice in state court here in central Florida where both it and Disney reside and do business.”
The contentious relationship between DeSantis and Disney began when the company openly opposed Republican-imposed restrictions on covering topics such as homosexuality and so-called “gender identity” in public schools.
In response, DeSantis signed the ‘Parental Rights in Education Act’ (HB 1557) bill into law, which was met with further disapproval from Disney.
The governor then took control of the board overseeing development at Walt Disney World, effectively limiting the company’s autonomy over its theme park complex.
Disney is currently suing DeSantis, alleging that he is orchestrating a “targeted campaign of government retaliation.”
The ongoing feud between the two parties has persisted for years and is considered one of the nation’s most acrimonious disputes.
