In a decisive move reflecting corporate commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, Disney shareholders have overwhelmingly voted against a proposal brought forth by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to withdraw Disney from the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI).

The proposal, introduced through NCPPR’s Free Enterprise Project (FEP), argued that Disney's participation in the CEI, where the company consistently earns a perfect score, could alienate customers and investors. The FEP described the HRC's criteria as “partisan, divisive, and increasingly radical,” linking their support for transgender rights to what they termed “gender confusion in children.” The proposal further alleged that organisations such as GLSEN, the Trevor Project, and GLAAD promote harmful narratives and engage in “advocating for irreversible surgical procedures on confused teens.”

The proposal also contested Disney’s public opposition to Florida’s "Parental Rights in Education Act," commonly referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" law. NCPPR cited this stance as an example of what they perceive as detrimental corporate activism.

In response, Disney's board of directors recommended that shareholders vote against the proposal, firmly reiterating their ongoing commitment to workplace equality for LGBTQ+ employees. This commitment is demonstrated in their consistent perfect score on the CEI. The preliminary results from the vote showed a minuscule 1% of shares backing the NCPPR's initiative, indicating a strong majority support for the company's current policies and practices.

Source: Noah Wire Services