Disney World’s governing district has discontinued its diversity programs.

The diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Walt Disney World’s governing district have been eliminated on Tuesday by the newly appointed officials from Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration, reflecting his stance on curtailing such programs in higher education and other sectors. This decision aligns with the governor’s agenda, which prioritizes reducing the emphasis on these initiatives.
The diversity, equity, and inclusion committee of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District will be dissolved, along with any associated responsibilities. Additionally, initiatives from the previous administration, which prioritized achieving racial or gender equality in the awarding of contracts, have been terminated.

Glenton Gilzean, the district’s new administrator who is African American and a former head of the Central Florida Urban League, called such initiatives “illegal and simply un-American.” Gilzean has been a fellow or member at two conservative institutions, the James Madison Institute and the American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network, as well as a DeSantis appointee to the Florida Commission on Ethics.

In his statement, Gilzean declared that the district will discontinue any endeavors to foster racial division or propagate the idea of inequality. Drawing from his experience as the former leader of the Central Florida Urban League, a prominent civil rights organization, he emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration in our community’s success, despite our diverse backgrounds.

Governor DeSantis, a leader in the Republican Party’s presidential race, enacted a legislation during the previous spring that prohibits public universities from utilizing federal or state funds for the implementation of diversity initiatives.

DeSantis has been a strong advocate for Florida’s “Stop WOKE” legislation, which prohibits businesses, colleges, and K-12 schools from conducting training programs on specific racial ideas. These include the belief that individuals of a specific race are inherently privileged, oppressed, or racist. However, a federal judge issued an injunction last November, preventing the law from being enforced in colleges, universities, and businesses, deeming it “positively dystopian.”

According to the members of Florida’s work group, the majority did not agree with certain contentious elements of the state’s recently implemented Black history standards.

The establishment of the Reedy Creek Improvement District played a crucial role in Disney’s choice to construct a theme park resort in the vicinity of Orlando during the 1960s. By having its own governing body, the company was able to oversee zoning regulations, fire safety measures, utilities, and infrastructure development within its vast property. Disney loyalists maintained control of the district for over 50 years.

Richard Foglesong, a retired professor from Rollins College, expressed his astonishment at the internal resolution of the matter instead of a public vote by the five members who were appointed by DeSantis to the district’s board. These members had previously made numerous commitments to transparency, so the decision-making process caught Foglesong off guard.

According to Foglesong, author of the book “Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando,” this is a matter of significant public concern, indicating the importance it holds.

The DeSantis nominees assumed power over the rebranded organization earlier this year, concluding a prolonged dispute between the company and DeSantis. The conflict arose last year when Disney, faced with considerable internal and external pressure, openly spoke out against a state legislation that prohibited teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in early education, a policy that detractors refer to as the “Don’t Say Gay” policy.

To address the issue, DeSantis assumed control of the district by means of legislation introduced by Republican lawmakers, and subsequently appointed a fresh board of supervisors responsible for overseeing the provision of municipal services to the extensive theme parks and hotels. In response, Disney filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and the five individuals he appointed to the board, alleging that the Florida governor infringed upon the company’s freedom of speech by taking retaliatory measures.

Disney reached agreements with previous members of the oversight board who were supportive of Disney, effectively removing the authority of the newly appointed supervisors in matters of design and development. The members appointed by DeSantis, who govern the district, have filed a second lawsuit against Disney in state court, challenging the validity of these agreements.