Current Affairs

Disney World joins coalition of Florida businesses supporting anti-discrimination law

Jan 13 2014
Written by Joseph McCormick

Walt Disney World joined other influential businesses in the US state of Florida to throw weight behind a bill to ban anti-LGBT discrimination in the workplace.

Darden Restaurants also on Monday joined the Florida Business Coalition for a Competitive Workplace, saying a law to ban discrimination would help companies in the state compete against employers in other states with similar policies.

“The link between strong anti-discrimination laws and the ability to draw the best and brightest is the reason that 84 percent of the nation’s largest companies have adopted comprehensive anti-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity,” the companies said in a joint statement.

Railroad operator CSX, insurer Florida Blue and banking giant Wells Fargo also joined the coalotion.

CSX is a member of a conference of some of the largest railroad operators in the US which began offering health benefits to same-sex spouses as of January.

LGBT advocates commended the move as a step forward for the legislation which has not moved forward since bills began to be filed in 2007.