Charlee Disney, a grandchild to Walt Disney and heir to the entertainment empire has come out as transgender at a Human Rights Campaign event.
Per the Los Angeles Times:
For years, Charlee identified as gay, which came as no surprise to Sheri, who remembers Charlee at 2 or 3 tugging her away from the little girls’ shoe section, saying, “But mom, I’m a boy on the inside.”
Then, four years ago, Charlee came out as trans. And even with all the apparent privilege in the world, they said their journey has been difficult.
Charlee told the L.A. Times “I had very few openly gay role models and I certainly didn’t have any trans or nonbinary role models. I didn’t see myself reflected in anyone, and that made me feel like there was something wrong with me.”
Disney also took aim at Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill saying it would hurt transgender children facing depression, anxiety and bullying.
“Then to put something like this law on top of that? They can’t learn about their community and their history at school, or play sports or use the bathroom they want to use?” Charlee asked.
While at the Human Rights Campaign Gala, Charlee said “as members of the Disney family, standing up for equality has always been what we do. Tonight, our family is issuing a fundraising challenge.”
“We really believe in the work you all are doing. And we will give $250,000 if we can match that amount in the room tonight,” he continued. “I hope you will help us fight for equality everywhere.”
“I grew up with HRC, attending events like this one, and I’m so proud to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community,” Disney explained. “It’s very important to me and my brother, Aidan, and my parents, Sheri and Roy P. Disney.”
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