‘We’re Not Safe Here.’ Another Company Joins Disney in Suing Florida Over ‘Anti-Woke’ Laws

Companies in the state of Florida are starting to get nervous. They are looking around the business and political landscape and are hearing from their employees, and it is beginning to make some companies nervous. When the Walt Disney Company spoke out against Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, very few companies joined them.

Related: Disney is Accused of Being ‘Woke’. What Exactly Does That Mean?

When Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature stripped Disney of its self-governing zone, the Reedy Creek Improvement District, and replaced it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, again, few companies spoke out. And when Disney sued DeSantis, no companies joined in on that lawsuit.

But now, Disney has decided not to move to Lake Nona, which cost the state 2,000 jobs and $1 billion in investment, and Central Florida companies are starting to realize that if this can happen to Disney, it can happen to them. And companies are beginning to hear from their employees that they feel unsafe in Florida.

And now, a new company has joined the fight against Florida’s “anti-woke” laws. According to North Florida’s NPA affiliate, Penguin Random House and five authors have sued the Escambia County School Board over its banning of books. The suit by PEN America contends that the school board “unlawfully removes or restricts access to books about race, racism, and LGBTQ identities.”

🧵PEN America Files Lawsuit against Florida School District over Unconstitutional Book Bans

Lawsuit joined by @penguinrandom, parents, and authors asserts that Escambia County School Board unlawfully removes or restricts access to books about race, racism, and LGBTQ identities. pic.twitter.com/9FFps68Gd6

— PEN America (@PENamerica) May 17, 2023

The school district has not responded to the lawsuit. Still, it can argue that it is acting by the Florida Parental Rights in Education Law, which restricts discussions about “sexual identity” or “sexual orientation.” When the law was initially passed, it was only for grades K-3 but has recently been expanded to all grade levels.

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, companies are also hearing from employees that they no longer feel safe in Florida, especially those who are LGBTQ+ or have family members receiving or receiving gender-affirming care. Just this week, DeSantis signed a law that banned the prescription of any puberty-blocking or hormone drug for minors and any gender-affirming care for minors.

Things have gotten so bad that both of Florida’s GOP Senators, Marco Rubio, and Rick Scott, have spoken out against DeSantis’ feud with Disney. 

Governor DeSantis is also being taken to task by his possible rivals for the GOP Presidential nomination. Former South Carolina governor, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and former Vice President Mike Pence have spoken out against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ retaliation against a private company.

For now, Florida is only facing two lawsuits from businesses due to its “anti-woke” laws, but there is always the possibility of more to come.

We will continue to keep you updated on this story at Disney Fanatic.