Florida board picked by DeSantis countersues Disney

The Florida board handpicked by governor Ron DeSantis to exert control over Disney’s district has countersued the company in the latest escalation of a feud originating from a dispute over LGBTQ rights.

The lawsuit filed in a Florida court by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) on May 1 alleged that its predecessor, the Reedy Creek Improvement District, failed to give proper public notice ahead of approving a development agreement that lets Disney stay in the driver’s seat for years to come.

The move comes mere days after Disney sued the governor and his recently formed oversight board, alleging hostile retaliation for the company’s stance on a controversial bill that limits conversations about gender and sexuality in schools, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by its critics. qz