The Architect of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill That Started Disney/DeSantis Feud is Headed to Prison

Sometimes, it’s really hard to remember how all of this started. How is it possible that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and one of the state’s largest employers and taxpayers, the Walt Disney Company, are at each other’s throats? And really, it all comes back to one simple decision, almost a capitulation, by someone who doesn’t even work for Disney anymore. And just like that, the two sides are involved in a lengthy and expensive legal battle.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

It’s been nearly 21 months since former Disney CEO Bob Chapek decided to denounce Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, known by its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Chapek waited as the bill made its way through the Florida Legislature, and it wasn’t until he was pressured by Walt Disney World cast members that he actually spoke up.

But now, the man behind that controversial bill is headed to prison. Former Florida State Representative Joe Harding, who was one of the co-sponsors of the Parental Rights in Education Bill, was sentenced to four months in prison for wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements.

Federal authorities accused Harding of using false bank statements for two dormant small businesses to obtain loans from the Small Business Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was charged with trying to obtain $150,000 in fraudulent Covid-19 relief loans.

Credit: Disney/ Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Jason Coody, the United States attorney for the Northern District of Florida, said in a statement:

The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable. However, the defendant’s deceptive acts of diverting emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale. Today’s sentence both punishes the defendant’s criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would selfishly steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves.

In a coincidental twist, the judge overseeing this case was United States District Judge Allen Winsor, also the judge in Disney’s lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Disney is suing the governor in Federal Court, claiming that he and the Florida Legislature violated the company’s First Amendment Rights and retaliated against them for speaking out against the controversial bill.

Disney has a second lawsuit against the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and Governor DeSantis, claiming that the stripping of Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District violated the Contract Clause of the Constitution. Disney is seeking damages from the Board of DeSantis appointees. The Board asked the State Court judge to dismiss Disney’s suit last week.

Credit: Disney

As for Harding, he will start serving his sentence in early 2024. He also received two years of supervised release. He represented a District in Northern Florida but resigned one day after the Federal indictment came down last December.

The Walt Disney Company and Gov DeSantis will continue their ongoing feud over the theme park district in court. But for now, it appears the man behind the law that critics said targeted the LGBTQ+ community and supporters said increased parental rights will be behind bars.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.