March 30, 2022
Watch: Raven-Symoné Says There Should Be a 'Don't Say Straight' Bill
Emell Adolphus READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Now that Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill has been signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, more celebrities are speaking out about its ramifications on LGBTQ youth and their families.
The latest celeb to speak out is Disney star Raven Symoné, TODAY reported.
Symoné was on the show to talk about her new YouTube channel, 8 PM, with her wife Miranda when the topic turned to "Don't Say Gay."
Symoné's take on the legislation is that there should be a "Don't Say Straight" bill to make the "Don't Say Gay" implications fair for all.
"I'm going to say this, and this is my thing: If there's a 'Don't Say Gay' bill, there should be a 'Don't Say Straight' bill," she said.
Symoné pointed out that "it's not fair" to punish people for being different. "You are ruining the psyche, the confidence of so many young children because you are discrediting their parents, the people they love, the people that raised them, the people that teach them the manners when they walk into that schoolroom," she said. "So if you're not going to honor their family, your family shouldn't be honored either."
After Disney CEO Bob Chapek initially fumbled the company's response to the bill, Disney has now come out against the legislation. The action has spurred the law's author, Florida Rep. Joe Harding, to vow that he will return the company's campaign donations for listening to the "woke mob."
Symoné and the cast of her Disney Channel sitcom, "Raven's Home," reportedly participated in a walkout at the company over the legislation.
Her hope for her new YouTube channel is to show that LGBTQ love is just like all love.
"I found my life partner, I found the person that makes me feel comfortable and in my skin, and she's down for the cause," says Symoné. "(Miranda) kind of brought it to my attention there are not a lot of people in the industry that are in our age bracket, are part of the LGBTQ+ community, multiracial, talented and want to make positive change, want to have conversations, want to make sure that, you know, if you don't agree, tell me why."
