Yahoo Finance Disney Family Member Charlee Corra Comes Out Publicly as Transgender, Defends LGBTQ Rights for Kids
Tommaso Boddi/FilmMagic Charlee Disney
Charlee Corra has publicly come out as transgender.
A member of the Disney family, Charlee gave an interview to the Los Angeles Times that was published on Sunday, amid the company's controversy in regards to anti-LGBTQ legislation.
"I had very few openly gay role models," said Charlee, 30, who is the stepchild of Roy P. Disney, Walt Disney's great-nephew. "And I certainly didn't have any trans or nonbinary role models."
Added the high-school science teacher, who initially came out as transgender four years ago, "I didn't see myself reflected in anyone, and that made me feel like there was something wrong with me."
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Tommaso Boddi/Getty Charlee Disney
Charlee's interview comes one month after Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek apologized to employees for the company's "silence" amid the passing of Florida's new legislation, which is denounced by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, after employees organized and wrote letters about the company's handling.
The recently passed bill (HB 1557) prohibits discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in primary school classrooms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law on March 28.
Talking to the Times of the bullying, suicide, depression and anxiety that LGBTQ kids often face, Charlee added, "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?" they said.
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While Charlee admitted they "feel like [they] don't do very much to help" — "I don't call senators or take action. I felt like I could be doing more," they added — they recently made a big donation to the Human Rights Campaign.
Charlee's family, including Roy and mom Sheri, announced earlier this month that they would match up to $500,000 in donations to the HRC.
The pledge came after Charlee previously announced one of half that amount, during the HRC's annual gala in March. The family was moved to donate money of their own after the HRC refused a $5 million donation from the Disney company, asking them to do more outside of financial support.
"Equality matters deeply to us, especially because our child, Charlee, is transgender and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community," Roy said at the time.
As Sheri told the Times in the newspaper's interview published Sunday, "I have a trans kid, and I love my kid no matter what."
