Disney to launch ad with trans teen in continuing crusade against Fla. parents rights law
BURBANK, CALIF. (TND) — In the midst of the ongoing battle over Florida’s new Parental Rights in Education law, Disney and three other major media companies will reportedly air a new public service announcement featuring a transgender teen created by the pro-LGBT nonprofit GLAAD.
There are some politicians who are trying to tear my family apart, simply because my son is transgender," the mother of the teen says in the 60-second ad. "Trans kids don’t have a political agenda," she continues. "They are just kids. They just want to be left alone. My family is just like yours, we love our kids unconditionally and we will never stop fighting for them. Stand with us. Protect our families.
GLAAD, the group that created the ad, was formerly known as The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, but changed its name to just “GLAAD” to be more inclusive towards the transgender community. The media monitoring group aims to promote a favorable view of LGBT issues and individuals in the media.
The ad will be aired by outlets owned by Disney, such as Comcast, WarnerMedia and Paramount, and will be played for audiences in several states proposing and passing laws similar to Florida’s new Parental Rights in Education Bill, according to CNBC.
The new law forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity among lower elementary school grades, or in a manner not age-appropriate for older students. It also ensures parents have the right to be notified of healthcare services offered at their children’s schools, as well as the right to decline those services. The law will go into effect on July 1.
Disney has vowed to help repeal Florida’s new law, according to CNBC, which reported the company has hired a new executive vice president of global communications, Kristina Schake, to help lead that effort. Schake is the co-founder of an organization that brought forward a federal lawsuit challenging California’s Proposition 8, according to CNBC. The California proposition amended the state’s constitutional definition of marriage to include only heterosexual couples.
Similar to Disney, children’s cable television giant Nickelodeon published a new advertisement roughly a week ago for "International Trans Day of Visibility” featuring a 12-year-old transgender girl.
The ad features Rebekah Bruesehoff, a tween transgender activist, who says in the ad that growing up in the LGBTQ+ community has changed her perspective on life.
Bruesehoff became well known as a transgender activist after holding up a sign at a pro-trans rally in New Jersey which said, “I’m the SCARY Transgender person the MEDIA warned you about.” Bruesehoff has been featured frequently in videos and other media about gender identity.
