Protesters Oppose ESPN Women's Silence on Disney Park Opening Where Gay Individuals Are Executed by Beheading
Revamped Take:
Back in 2022, ESPN hosts stood united in a pair of moments of silence, condemning the Florida bill infamously dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" act during the NCAA tournament.
Fast forward to 2025, and Disney – ESPN's parent company – revealed intentions to establish a theme park in the UAE, where homosexuality is a capital offense.
You might wonder why the outspoken ESPN commentators are mum on the matter. Let's recap their past response:
"There are things bigger than sports... Our LGBTQIA+ colleagues at Disney urged our solidarity," stated Carolyn Peck and Courtney Lyle.
"The legislation targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community," as Elle Duncan put it during ESPN's tournament coverage.
Now, the actual Florida Parental Rights in Education Act - nicknamed the "Don't Say Gay" bill - wasn't explicitly aimed at gay individuals. Instead, the legislation forbade educating children below 4th grade about sexual orientation or gender identity in an age-inappropriate manner.
By contrast, in Abu Dhabi – the location of the proposed theme park – authorities carry out beheadings for individuals due to their sexual orientation.
Will Carolyn Peck and Courtney Lyle hold a moment of silence for the slain LGBTQIA+ individuals in Abu Dhabi? Will Elle Duncan shed light on the location of the new theme park on ESPN airwaves?
We reached out to the trio for a comment, but they remained silent. We will update this story if they break the silence.
Years ago, the moments of silence were self-serving, aligning with Disney's messaging at the time. Propositioning such a stance is advantageous for commentators like Duncan, especially given her pursuit of impressing her bosses and gal pals like Jemele Hill and Joy Reid.
However, speaking out against Disney's partnership with the UAE and criticizing Middle Eastern nations is a risky move. It appears that Peck, Lyle, and Duncan aren't willing to take that risk in the name of their LGBTQIA+ kin, suggesting that their professed support may have been merely for show.
These women do not seem genuinely concerned about endangered gay individuals in Abu Dhabi. Instead, they appear to use LGBTQ-centric issues to boost their own image.
In truth, it seems these women didn't even bother to read the "Don't Say Gay" bill before jumping on the bandwagon of faux outrage.
For transparency's sake, we at our website are against beheadings for homosexuality. Please feel free to quote us.
- The silence from ESPN's commentators, such as Carolyn Peck and Courtney Lyle, regarding Disney's planned theme park in the UAE, where homosexuality is punishable by law, is striking, considering their past vocal support for LGBTQIA+ rights.
- Given the controversial nature of Disney's partnership with the UAE, one might expect Elle Duncan to bring attention to the location of the new theme park on her ESPN broadcasts, as she did with the "Don't Say Gay" bill in 2022.
- Despite their past statements and actions indicating support for the LGBTQIA+ community, it seems that Carolyn Peck, Courtney Lyle, and Elle Duncan are hesitant to publicly criticize the Middle Eastern nations involved in the theme park project, potentially suggesting a lack of genuine concern for endangered LGBTQIA+ individuals.
- It appears that the trio have not conducted a thorough analysis of the issues at hand, as shown by their apparent lack of knowledge about the specifics of the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, in contrast to their swift response in 2022.
