Ron DeSantis canceled Disney district’s diversity committee.

Ron DeSantis canceled Disney district's diversity committee.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Eliminates Diversity Initiatives in Controversial Move

In a surprising and controversial move, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has announced the elimination of its diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, as well as any job duties connected to it. Additionally, initiatives that were put in place by Disney supporters, which aimed to achieve racial and gender parity, have also been axed. The district’s new administrator, Glenton Gilzean, who is African American and a former head of the Central Florida Urban League, called these initiatives “illegal and simply un-American.” This decision has stirred up a range of reactions and debate among the public.

Gilzean, known for his conservative affiliations and as a DeSantis appointee to the Florida Commission on Ethics, expressed his disapproval of initiatives that aim to divide people by race, emphasizing the importance of working together despite our differences. He stated, “As the former head of the Central Florida Urban League, a civil rights organization, I can say definitively that our community thrives only when we work together despite our differences.”

While the district has taken this action, Disney World, which has been closely associated with the district, has not yet commented on the situation. The relationship between Disney and the oversight district has been complicated and is rooted in the history of Disney’s decision to build a theme park near Orlando in the 1960s. The creation of the district, then known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, allowed Disney to have its own government to provide essential services. For more than five decades, the district was controlled by Disney supporters.

The recent controversy surrounding the elimination of the diversity initiatives took many by surprise. It is commonly expected that such a crucial matter would be decided through a public vote by the members appointed by DeSantis to the district’s board. However, the decision was instead made internally by the new board members. This internal decision-making process raises questions about transparency and public importance.

Governor DeSantis has shown a track record of opposing diversity programs. Last spring, he signed a law that prohibited public colleges from using federal or state funding on diversity programs. He has also championed Florida’s “Stop WOKE” law, aimed at preventing businesses, colleges, and K-12 schools from providing training on certain racial concepts. A federal judge blocked the law’s enforcement in colleges, universities, and businesses, considering it “positively dystopian.”

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The relationship between Disney and DeSantis has been strained since Disney publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. As a result, DeSantis took over the oversight district, appointing a new board of supervisors. Disney sued DeSantis, claiming that their free speech rights were violated. Before the new board came into power, Disney had made agreements with previous oversight board members, effectively limiting the authority of the new supervisors over design and development. The DeSantis-appointed members of the governing district have filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate those agreements.

The elimination of diversity initiatives and the overall tension between Disney and DeSantis have sparked a significant debate within the community. Some applaud the district’s decision, echoing Gilzean’s sentiments that unity should be prioritized over divisions based on race. Others criticize the move, highlighting the importance of diversity and the potential implications for inclusivity in the community. This ongoing controversy sheds light on the challenges faced by organizations and communities when navigating complex issues of diversity and inclusion in a politically charged climate.