A former aide to Presidents Ronald
Reagan and George H. W. Bush has criticized the Walt Disney Co.,
claiming it is pushing a “pro-gay agenda” to children.
Douglas MacKinnon, a columnist for The
Tampa Tribune, devoted his Tuesday column to speaking out against
the company.
“Beginning with the takeover of the
company by Michael Eisner in 1984 and continuing under the leadership
of Robert Iger since 2005, it can be argued that Disney has been
working overtime to redefine 'family values,'” MacKinnon wrote in
his piece, titled Disney's
Pro-Gay Agenda is Disturbing.
“But beyond his fiscal responsibility
to shareholders, does Iger have an even greater responsibility to
impressionable children?”
“Disney has made no secret that it
pushes a pro-gay agenda. That is most certainly its right. But
where does the company draw the line? A former Disney executive I
spoke with told me the company has taken direct aim at children to
indoctrinate them about gay lifestyles and gay marriage through shows
it airs on The Disney Channel and Disney XD.”
“The former executive said one of the
more subtle techniques is to incorporate the colors of the gay-pride
flag in as many shots as possible. The colors are woven in as a wink
and nod to the gay community and show up on shirts, hats, posters,
stacked cups and rings. The practice has been picked up by other
children's networks and national advertisers.”
“Disney also pushes the gay agenda by
introducing openly gay characters and couples on its children's
programming. Again, that is their right, but should they be in the
business of entertaining children or indoctrinating them?”
Writing at Equality Matters, Luke
Brinker noted: “MacKinnon never explains what harm might be
caused by featuring gay-inclusive programming – suggesting that he
sees an inherent harm in simply letting children know that gay people
exist and have families.”