Truth and reality in the Magic Kingdom

The self-declared “happiest place on Earth” was, at least in the corporate boardrooms, not so happy last week. Disney CEO Bob Chapek was forced to do an about-face after a cohort of Disney employees and outside liberal pressure groups slammed the entertainment giant for what they perceived to be weak opposition to new legislation in Florida.

The legislation, dubbed by opponents and a compliant media as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, restricts Florida public schools from teaching about sex and gender to students in kindergarten through third grade. What seems like a reasonable restriction—state schools being asked by their state to withhold teaching young children things that are best taught by their parents at that age—has ignited a firestorm in the media and among liberal and liberal-leaning politicians. Much of the commentary on the legislation has been false, as pointed out by fellow WORLD Opinions columnist Allie Beth Stuckey. Even gay commentator Guy Benson, who is mildly skeptical about the legislation, nevertheless says that much of the commentary and reporting on the bill is misleading. The legislation only restricts formalized classroom teaching on sexuality and gender, not conversations with teachers, friends, or school officials. The fact that celebrities, intellectuals, and activist organizations insist upon using classrooms to talk about sensitive subjects is a revealing insight into how morally compromised our nation has become.

At the heart of this controversy is the burgeoning debate over who has the right to determine what children are taught in public schools. In Florida, the legislature and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis are asking the educational establishment to leave it to the parents to take up the task of formally teaching their K–3 students about gender and sexuality. This is a commonsense position, regardless of where parents fall on the political spectrum. Parents of young children are understandably wary of outsourcing discussions of such topics to a state curriculum steeped in values they may or may not affirm. It is morally wrong to inflict such conversations on young children.

Gov. DeSantis’ refusal to back down in his support of the bill has encouraged social conservatives. His pushing back on Disney is courage on display. Rather than cave to corporate pressure, DeSantis has articulately and firmly refuted the false narratives describing the legislation. And after a conversation with the Disney CEO, refused to back down. What the governor understands is that such corporate saber rattling is usually full of empty threats. When the furor dies down, Disney will return to business as usual, because their executives understand that Florida is full of conservative families who pay to visit their theme parks, subscribe to Disney+, and purchase Disney products.

What’s more, these corporations are vulnerable to charges of hypocrisy when they seek to punish conservative states over political disagreements but continue to do business in places like China, a country engaging in gross human rights abuses and genocide of the Uyghur Muslims. It is a rare thing to behold an elected official coming to the defense of socially conservative causes without his or her knees buckling. Gov. DeSantis’ approach should serve as a template for what other governors should do when confronted with similar challenges.

What’s more concerning—and what should give Christian parents pause—is the aggressiveness of some cultural voices in demanding access to our children at their most vulnerable, seeking to bypass the role of the parent in indoctrinating them in values contrary to our beliefs. We should not be naïve about what is at stake.

Christians shouldn’t be fearful of those who disagree with us and should exhibit the love of Christ. Churches should be places where those shaped by false worldviews and those who struggle with sexual sin can find gospel hope.

Still, it is the job of parents, not the state, to shape young children’s views of sexuality. So it is right to resist indoctrination. Parenting is a sacred stewardship. We are tasked with catechizing our children in the way of the Lord and preparing them to live on mission in a world that, as Jesus promised, will largely see genuine Christianity as strange.

Christians can be thankful that in Florida, at least, the state is allowing parents to do their jobs and teachers to do theirs. Keeping that straight is the job of all citizens in all 50 states.