Disney General Entertainment president Karey Burke recently pledged that characters in upcoming projects will represent the LGBTQ+ community or minorities, Meaww reports.
Burke’s vow comes amid the reported ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill passed by the Senate of Florida, banning teachers from giving lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity to children under the age of nine.
Karey has since addressed the issue with the bill, opening up about her own experience as an LGBTQ+ ally and mothering two children who are part of the community.
Following the Disney General Entertainment president’s recent vow, we take a look at her family.
Karey Burke, who was appointed as Disney General Entertainment President in 2020, just announced a huge leap forward for Disney, vowing that characters in upcoming projects will represent members of the LGBTQ+ community.
As per The Daily Mail, Burke addressed inclusivity in a company-wide Zoom call, saying that 50 percent of characters and content would be from underrepresented groups.
Burke then clarified that viewers will be able to see the change and representation coming into effect by the end of this year, according to Meaww.
Meet Karey Burke’s family and children
During the company-wide Zoom call, Burke told employees that representation of the LGBTQ+ community in upcoming projects was so important to her because of her children and family.
Karey tied the knot to writer and director Michael Duggan in 2019, and she has five children, according to ShowBizCorner.
Opening up about her family and children, Burke explained that two of her children are part of the LGBTQ+ community and she felt a responsibility to speak out.
The Disney General Entertainment President shared: “I’m here as the mother of two queer children, actually, one transgender child and one pansexual child, and also as a leader. I have heard so much from so many of my colleagues over the past few weeks in open forums, through emails, and through phone conversations.
“I feel a responsibility to speak not just for myself but also for [my kids].”
Learn more about Karey Burke
Burke has made her stance on the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill clear, and addressed why LGBTQ+ representation in upcoming projects means so much to her, but what else do we know about her?
According to her LinkedIn, Karey Burke studied at UCLA between 1984 and 1988, before going on to work for NBC as a comedy development assistant.
Prior to her current role, ShowBizCorner reports that Burke also served as the president of ABC entertainment.
By 2020, Burke was appointed as the President of Disney General Entertainment.