Disney Signs Open Letter to Codify LGBT Marriage Rights
By Movieguide® Contributor
The Walt Disney Company, among a few other studios, has signed onto an open letter to Congress to support codifying some LGBT marriage rights into federal law.
“Americans from all walks of life, across demographics, geographies, and party lines agree that loving, committed couples have the right to be respected and protected under the law,” the letter reads. “As many of us highlighted in our support for Marriage Equality in 2015, a patchwork of inconsistent and discriminatory state marriage laws goes against our company values and makes it harder for us to do business and to recruit and retain top talent.”
The Human Rights Campaign spearheaded the open letter, which now has 173 signatories representing 5.3 million employees.
The letter urges the Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which would fully repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Congress passed DOMA to “define and protect the institution of marriage.” It defines ‘marriage’ as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife,” and ‘spouse’ refers “only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”
Additionally, the act “didn’t require states to legally respect same-sex marriages performed in other states,” The Hollywood Reporter explains.
However, in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Windsor struck down the federal recognition aspect of DOMA, meaning same-sex couples could be federally recognized for Social Security survivor benefits, equitable tax treatment, sponsoring a spouse for citizenship, and more.
Additionally, in 2015, Obergefell v. Hodges ruled that marriage can include same-sex partnerships.
However, because of Justice Clarence Thomas’ comments in his concurring opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Human Rights Campaign fears that the court might look to overturn rulings like Windsor. However, other justices expressed no interest in reviewing these cases.
Regardless, the letter continues, saying, “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,” the letter adds.
Disney’s presence among the signatories is notable though unsurprising, as the company has started to create more LGBT content for children and caters to the 7% of Americans who identify as something other than heterosexual.
As Movieguide® previously reported, though, “Walt Disney Co.’s market value dropped 41% this past year,” revealing that most audiences still do not want sexually immoral content targeted at their children.
Although Disney again decided to back pro-LGBT legislation through the open letter, this will ultimately harm business, as seen in recent box office flops like LIGHTYEAR, which pushed “an immoral and unbiblical agenda that went directly against the narrative the original movies so beautifully told.”
Instead, telling stories and promoting legislation that uphold more traditional values would increase audience enthusiasm for Disney and its content.
Movieguide® previously reported on Disney’s LGBT agenda:
By catering to a small minority of moviegoers, Disney would ostracize one of their largest audiences: Christians who believe in biblical truth.
According to Gallup, 7% of Americans identify as something other than heterosexual. Gallup also reported that in 2021, 69% of Americans identify as Christian. From a logistical standpoint, it makes sense that studios want to target the largest audiences.
According to Movieguide®’s 2022 Report To The Entertainment Industry, “92% of the Top 25 Movies had no sexual content or immorality or only light or implied sexual content (No S or S).”
The report continues: “Only one, or 4% of the Top 25 Movies, had any depicted sexual nudity in them (NN or NNN), so 96% had no sexual nudity whatsoever! Happily, nearly three-quarters, 72%, of the Top 25 Movies had no homosexual content whatsoever! Only 12% of the Top 25 had any strong or very strong homosexual references or content in them promoting homosexual behavior (HoHo or HoHoHo), but another 16% had some light or implied homosexual references or content (Ho).”
Disney’s failure to uphold moral truth is common among many companies today. Perhaps more sinister is that the studios and streamers’ open attack against Christianity and the truth of God’s word through their TV, Movies, and other media begins with children’s content.
With LIGHTYEAR, Disney would join Netflix, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and other companies in overt over-sexualization of animated content or content geared toward younger audiences.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
- Content: +2Share:
- Content: +2