According to Insider, Ron and Casey DeSantis dated for three years before marrying in 2009. Their nuptials were a fairytale event of grand proportions, with Cinderella, a castle, and a picturesque lagoon taking center stage. However, one detail about the DeSantis wedding is extremely ironic now — it was held at the Grand Floridian’s wedding pavilion… in Disney World.
Fast forward more than a decade, and Ron and Disney are at war. Per Politico, the battle began after the Florida governor signed the Parental Rights in Education Act, aka the “Don’t Say, Gay” bill, in March 2022. The policy bars educators from mentioning anything about sexual orientation and gender identity to students in kindergarten through to third grade.
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The Washington Post reports that Disney denounced the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation leading Ron to revoke the special tax privileges for Reedy Creek, where Disney World is based. Reedy Creek residents hit back with a lawsuit in May 2022, accusing Ron of political retaliation. In February 2023, Republicans voted for Reedy Creek to be renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and ruled that all its board members be appointed by Ron. However, Reedy Creek officials signed power over to Disney before they could implement the plan. Ron steamed ahead regardless. He appointed a board filled with loyal conservatives and financial donors, declared that the Reedy Creek-Disney power move wasn’t legally binding, and announced further penalties against the “woke corporation.” Disney sued. Ron’s specially appointed board countersued. Well, so much for the happiest place on earth.
