DeSantis-appointed board eliminates minority-based hiring, hiring at Disney World

The tourism board appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to oversee Disney World and its resort announced Tuesday that it will abolish all efforts to pursue diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

A release from the board said the initiatives “discriminated against Americans based on gender and race, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.”

“The so-called diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives were advanced during the tenure of the previous board and were illegal and simply un-American,” district administrator Glenton Gilzean said in a statement. “Our district will no longer engage in any attempt to divide us by race or advance the idea that we are not created equal.”

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, created earlier this year by law, replace previous members, who had been appointed by the company. The change in leadership led to lawsuits between Disney and the state over the authority of DeSantis and the district.

After the move, Disney the state sued, alleging that DeSantis was targeting the company because of his political views. DeSantis has since he shotdespite warnings from other Republicans.

DEI initiatives, including those encouraging government agencies to hire minority-owned contractors or hire more minority employees, have been a key focus in DeSantis’ policy platform.

A Florida bill this spring practices prohibited in state universities.

DeSantis’ feud with Disney has been ongoing since the district board was replaced this spring. Disney initially criticized DeSantis for a bill he signed, called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which limits the teaching of gender and sexual orientation in schools.

DEI programs canceled in the district included a program that required contractors to hire a certain quota of women and minority employees. The statement claims the district had to pay millions of dollars more to hire contractors who met those requirements.