(Photo by inazakira, from Wikimedia Commons)
ORLANDO | The Orlando Magic made a substantial donation to a Super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign at the end of LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
A donation of $50,000 was made by Orlando Magic, LTD on June 26 to Never Back Down Inc., a Super PAC supporting DeSantis’ run to become the 2024 Republican nominee for President of the United States.
The donation was first reported by SFGate Politics Editor Alex Shultz Aug. 1 on Twitter.
“Orlando Magic appear to be the first NBA team… ever? to back a presidential candidate,” Shultz wrote.
Shultz stated, after scanning filings to the Federal Election Commission, this may be the largest political donation attributed to an NBA organization, although he admits he did not conduct an exhaustive search.
“[T]eam owners dumping money on presidential candidates (especially conservatives) is not new; in this case, it’s very odd that, when given the opportunity, the organization isn’t distancing itself from the DeSantis donation,” Shultz wrote.
Shultz reported that when asked if the donation should be attributed to the DeVos family rather than the team, the response he received was “we don’t comment publicly on political contributions.”
According to the FEC website, campaigns are prohibited from accepting contributions directly from corporations, however donations to a Super PAC that supports a particular candidate is legal.
The Magic’s donation came roughly three months after the team hosted an LGBTQ+ Pride Night to “celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion and unity with the LGBTQ+ community.” The evening featured a performance from the Orlando Gay Chorus, a donation made to the Zebra Coalition and an award ceremony honoring Hope CommUnity Center executive director Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet.
This past legislative session marked the largest slate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills to be signed in a single year in Florida history highlighted by legislation banning gender-affirming care, blocking transgender individuals from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity and preventing state venues from hosting drag shows for all ages. It also saw an expansion of the “Don’t Say or Trans” law, all of which was backed and championed by DeSantis.
