Social Round-Up: Audra McDonald, Broadway's Company, More Respond to 'Don't Say Gay' Florida Bill | Playbill

Playbill Pride Social Round-Up: Audra McDonald, Broadway's Company, More Respond to 'Don't Say Gay' Florida Bill

Some of Broadway's biggest names are sharing their support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Audra McDonald Joseph Marzullo/MediaPunch

Broadway vets are sharing their support to the LGBT+ community in opposition of so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, which was passed in the Florida legislature March 8. According to AP News, the bill would "forbid instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade." 

The passing of this bill comes to the heel of Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott restricting trans rights through a state-wide order that requires child welfare agencies to investigate reports of gender-confirming care for youth as abuse.

Both of these attacks on LGBTQ+ rights have sparked a social media movement labeled "Say Gay" where members of the LGBTQ+ community, allies, and more are expressing their support. A few Broadway big-names and productions have contributed to the movement. 

Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald posted a video on Instagram of her "gay" vocal warm-up.

Openly gay actor Wilson Cruz, who starred as Angel in the Broadway production of Rent and Michael in the 2005 production of tick, tick... BOOM! at Rubicon Theatre Company in California, shared a video on Instagram. He reflects on the recently passed bill while sitting at the memorial for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

He writes, "I found myself at #PULSE today only a few minutes after the #Florida legislature passed its violent #DontSayGay bill and sent it to @flgovrondesantis to sign. Almost 6 years after this national #lgbtqia tragedy, Florida has learned NOTHING about how to prevent another Pulse."

In his video, he includes a call-to-action to his followers, asking them to reach out to their legislatures to speak up against the bill and to donate to onePulse Foundation.

"#CompanyBroadway believes in freedom and equality for all and yes, we absolutely #SayGay," wrote Company on Twitter and Instagram. Broadway producer Tom D'Angora tweeted, "GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY! #SAYGAYFLORIDA," with a picture that reads, "say after me." 

Broadway and TV favorite Cynthia Nixon wrote, "This bigoted legislation will create less inclusive classrooms and directly harm LGBTQ+ youth." Grand Horizon's Maulik Pancholy thanked "librarians, teachers, parents and students" who fight for access to LGBT+ literature, and Fun Home's Judy Kuhn called out Disney for trying to
"have it both ways."

Tiny Beautiful ThingsNia Vardalos chimed in with "GAY. GAY! Hey Florida… we are all so gay and so happy being gay gay gay!" 

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