Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Calls for Removal of Disney World's Self-Governing Status

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced that the state's lawmakers will consider removing the self-governing status of Disney World.

According to The Hill, DeSantis noted that the state's legislature would be expanded to include considering the termination of all special districts imposed in Florida before 1968.

The self-governing status of the Reedy Creek Improvement District that administers much of Walt Disney World allowed the company to operate under its own government around its area in central Florida.

DeSantis earlier said the company has "alienated a lot of people now" with the company's opposition to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Disney World was put together in 1967 and essentially allows the amusement park to function as its own municipal government. It employs around 80,000 people.

Disney's special zone is known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, giving the company considerable control over the planning and permitting process for construction on its 25,000-acre property.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Dispute With Disney World

Ron DeSantis and Disney started to publicly call out each other last month after the company condemned the Parental Rights in Education law, which restricts discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms, among many things.

Disney earlier said its goal as a company is for the law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, according to The New York Times.

DeSantis took aim at Disney as a response and described it as "woke" and sent a fund-raising email to supporters, saying it had "lost any moral authority to tell you what to do."

Some Florida legislators then started threatening to revoke Disney World's special tax district. The "Independent Special Districts" bill quickly moved forward in the House and Senate shortly after the governor's announcement.

Republican state Rep. Randy Fine said, "you kick the hornet's nest, things come up," according to USA Today.

Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill

The Don't Say Gay bill has earned much criticism upon its announcement, including thousands of students, Florida's LGBTQ residents, advocates, and other concerned parties rallying against the law.

Some critics express worry that it may cause harm to LGBTQ students across all grades, WUSF News reported.

Equality Florida, families, and other concerned parties had filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the bill violates constitutional rights.

One of the lawsuit's plaintiffs is Zander Moricz, a senior at Pine View Schools in Sarasota County. Moricz noted that he would not have come out if he was not able to discuss with his teachers or peers the fact that he thought he was gay.

During the debate on passing the law, Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Democrat, said it would endanger the safety of LGBTQ students and adolescents, NBC reported.

Meanwhile, supporters of the law said it was about allowing parents to have control over their children's education, while opponents argued that it unfairly targets the LGBTQ community.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Governor DeSantis Takes on Disney, Calls for End to Self-Governance - From WFLA News Channel 8