“Illegal” Diversity Programs on the Chopping Block for DeSantis’ Approved Board

The board claims this will save millions of dollars each year. Should it be abolished though? Read the latest here and weigh in below.

Disney v DeSantis

The past year has been turbulent between the state of Florida and The Walt Disney Company. Florida passed the Parental Rights in Education Law in 2022. The Walt Disney Company originally remained quiet surrounding this bill despite pleas for them to take an official stance. Tension built until then-CEO Bob Chapek denounced the bill, but many believed it was too little, too late.

The tension between the company and the state continued to worsen as state Republicans repealed the Reedy Creek Improvement Act of 1967. This brought big operational changes to how Walt Disney World operates. In its place, he appointed the Central Florida Oversite Tourism District (CFOTD) and hand-picked its board members.

Now, the new board is doing things its own way. And, that includes dissolving diversity programs.

Getting Rid of Diversity Programs

Today the board announced the abolition of all diversity programs at the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. According to the board, an internal investigation into the board’s policies determined that then-Reedy Creek Improvement District used discriminatory practices for hiring and contracting.

The district’s DEI committee will be dissolved and any DEI job duties will be eliminated. Staff of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board will no longer be permitted to use any staff time to pursue DEI initiatives.

“The so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives were advanced during the tenure of the previous board and they were illegal and simply unamerican,” said Administrator Gilzean.

“Our district will no longer participate in any attempt to divide us by race or advance the notion that we are not created equal. 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.”

“The so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives were advanced during the tenure of the previous board and they were illegal and simply unamerican,”

Administrator Glenton Gilzean

Further Implications

The press release also adds that the RCID gave out contracts based on racially and gender driven goals to businesses. They were based on the race and gender of the owner of that business. Also, the previous district had certain quotas that needed to be met to ensure there was enough diversity.

In doing so, the district spent millions of dollars to find businesses that fit these quotas. Contracts threatened contractors who did not keep up with racial or gender quotes with nonpayment and disqualification from future bidding.

What do you think of the CFTOB abolishing its diversity programs? Let us know in the comments below and share this post with a friend.