Disney Shareholders Trounce Anti-DEI Proposal

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At their annual meeting, shareholders in Disney soundly trounced a right wing proposal to end the company’s participation in the annual Corporate Equality Index survey by the Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

The proposal was put forward by conservative think tank National Center for Public Policy Research. Disney’s board recommended against it. Only 1% of shareholders voted for it.

Disney’s score on the Corporate Equality Index has been perfect every year since 2007, although it has recently pulled back some of its policies for diversity, equity and inclusion.

The proposal at the shareholder meeting is the latest round in Republican targeting of Disney.

The global company has been intensely targeted by Republicans, especially Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The battle with him began when he signed the “Don’t Say Gay” law (Parental Rights in Education Act) in 2022. Disney’s then-CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against it and promised to work toward overturning it. DeSantis retaliated by getting the legislature to revoke Disney’s self-governing status in the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, a 40 square mile property in which Walt Disney World operates. The battle became a court case which settled in March 2024.

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