Disney Among 170 Companies in Support of the ‘Respect for Marriage Act’

As part of an initiative put forth by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the Walt Disney Company has joined over 170 companies in signing an open letter of support calling for the Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404/S. 4556).

If passed, the Respect for Marriage Act would ensure marital rights remain intact for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and would work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

The HRC’s open letter notes:

Codifying a consistent and inclusive federal standard conferred by the Loving, Windsor, and Obergefell rulings will help to ensure marriage equality, eliminate confusion for employers and enable us to retain and attract talent. No person, including same-sex couples and interracial couples protected by this bill, should fear their marriage will not be recognized by the federal government or their employment benefits threatened.

Disney’s move to sign the letter supporting the Respect for Marriage Act follows a rocky year of the company’s involvement and open support (or lack thereof) within various political issues. The Walt Disney Company was criticized by fans earlier this year when it did not formally oppose Florida’s Parental Rights in Education (“Don’t Say Gay” bill), and when Disney did later state opposition to the bill, the criticism only continued from some shareholders and fans as well as the DeSantis administration.

Following Disney’s outward opposition to the bill, the DeSantis administration began considering ways to change the Reedy Creek Improvement District that is part of Walt Disney World’s operation, with the implications of these considerations largely still unknown.

Since the controversy following Disney’s stand on the Parental Rights in Education bill, the company has been more open on where it falls on a number of issues. With the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Walt Disney came out alongside a number of other companies sharing that the cost of travel needed to receive an abortion would be covered for employees who cannot undergo the procedure in their home states.

As for Disney’s recent history with the HRC, the group previously rejected a donation from Disney that was sent during CEO Bob Chapek’s apology for how the company handled its stance on the Parental Rights in Education Bill. The Walt Disney Company has certainly been more open about which initiatives it supports since the mishandling of its stance on the past bill, with its signature on the HRC’s letter being the most recent indication of such a change.