Disney Opposed Florida’s «Don’t Say Gay» Bill. Republicans Want To End Its State Privileges

Republicans in the Florida Senate advanced a bill Wednesday to revoke an incentive that allows Disney to self-govern.

Florida Republicans are trying to change the narrative around their push to end special incentives for Disney by saying they’re protecting free markets, a shift away from what they’ve explicitly said it’s about in the past: retaliation against the company’s support of LGBTQ rights, Buzzfeed News reports.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seen as a likely 2024 presidential candidate, called on the Florida legislature to end Disney’s special tax district on Tuesday, which has allowed the amusement park to enjoy millions of dollars in incentives since the 1960s. The move came after Disney publicly denounced Florida’s «Don’t Say Gay» bill, which bars instruction of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools from kindergarten through third grade. The company also announced it would pause campaign donations in the state, according to Buzzfeed News.