Should Christians boycott Disney? The Conservative Baptist Network (CBN), Franklin Graham, and others are warning believers against the Walt Disney Company’s recent public stances on gender and sexuality.
“When I was young, my father @BillyGraham took me to visit Mr. Walt Disney,” said Samaritan’s Purse president Franklin Graham in a tweet on April 2. “We weren’t allowed to watch many TV programs growing up, but because of Mr. Disney’s commitment to wholesome entertainment, parents had confidence in their content. That has sure changed!”
Graham linked to a Fox News article titled, “Woke Disney: 10 families who are swearing off Disney due to its left-leaning politics,” and continued, “Today, Disney is indoctrinating children w/the LGBTQ agenda—& they don’t try to hide it. I hope parents wake up to what Disney is trying to do & protect their children & grandchildren from the lies this once-great company is now so willing to promote.”
RELATED: Should Kids Watch Disney’s New ‘Turning Red’ Movie? One Mom’s Honest Review
Boycott Disney: CBN Decries ‘Radical Sexualization of Children’
“Please join us in expressing to Disney that its abandonment of family values and embrace of the radical sexualization of children will not be condoned by those committed to following Jesus Christ,” said the CBN in a statement dated April 1. The CBN is a grassroots organization launched in February 2020 to address what its members see as a trend towards liberalism in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The group listed several reasons for its call to boycott Disney, one being the company’s opposition to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed into law.
Disney drew sharp criticism from the LGBTQ community for at first remaining silent about the bill, but the company has since denounced it.
The portion of the bill that has received the most attention states: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” The bill’s supporters say that it protects children and the rights of parents, while opponents say it censors and otherwise infringes on the rights of those who identify as LGBTQ.
CBN also mentioned the fact that Disney has eliminated “ladies and gentlemen” and “boys and girls” in greetings to park guests, a decision the company made in the summer of 2021. Other reasons CBN listed for its statement referred to company executives’ overt support of LGBTQ representation in children’s entertainment.
CBN noted that at the upcoming 2022 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention that will take place in Anaheim, Calif., this June, the SBC is offering discounted tickets to Disneyland, which is near where the meeting will be held. “The Conservative Baptist Network urges Southern Baptists to choose another family activity rather than support the anti-biblical agenda now clearly present within the Disney corporation,” says the statement.
Statement from The Walt Disney Company on signing of Florida legislation: pic.twitter.com/UVI7Ko3aKS
— Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) March 28, 2022
.jpg){kind=link}