Plain English with Derek Thompson

What Is the “Don’t Say Gay” Law Really About? (Plus: The Big Disney vs. DeSantis Showdown in Florida.)

Mar 29, 2022

In this engaging conversation, Dana Goldstein, a New York Times education reporter, and Matt Belloni, co-founder of Puck News, delve into Florida's controversial 'Don’t Say Gay' law. Goldstein breaks down the law’s implications for LGBTQ+ discussions in schools, highlighting its potential chilling effects on educators. Belloni discusses the heated cultural clash at Disney, detailing how the company grapples with employee discontent and the pressures of corporate accountability in the face of rising activism. Their insights reveal the ongoing tension between social issues and corporate strategies.

47:39

Episode guests

Matt Belloni

Dana Goldstein

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

5min

The Chilling Effect of the 'Don’t Say Gay' Law

19min

The Cultural Clash: Disney's Response to Legislative Backlash

5min

Disney's Response to Employee Discontent: The Aftermath of the 'Don't Say Gay' Law

2min

Disney's Complicated Legacy with LGBTQ Representation

2min

Leadership Tensions at Disney

12min

On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation that prohibits much classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity. The law is called “Parental Rights in Education,” but its critics—which include Democrats, Hollywood, and many outspoken employees of the Walt Disney Company—call it “Don’t Say Gay.” What does the law actually say? And how has it created a firestorm at Disney? In this episode, Derek talks to Dana Goldstein, a New York Times reporter, about the details of the law. Then he talks to Matt Belloni, a cofounder of Puck News and the host of the Ringer podcast ‘The Town,’ about what the debate within Disney says about the future of the culture war and corporations.

Host: Derek Thompson

Guests: Dana Goldstein and Matt Belloni

Producer: Devon Manze

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