Behrens grabs hat trick, Rönnow saves 2 penalties as Union Berlin beats Mainz in Bundesaliga opener
Kevin Behrens has scored a hat trick and Frederik Rönnow saved two penalties for Union Berlin to start the new Bundesliga season with a comfortable 4-1 win over Mainz
2023-08-21 00:17
Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano: Player ratings as Los Blancos leave it late to win
Player ratings from the clash between Real Madrid & Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
2023-05-25 03:56
World player nominee Aki extends contract with Ireland
Bundee Aki, whose performances for Ireland in achieving the Six Nations Grand Slam and at the World Cup have earned him a nomination for world player of the year, extended his contract...
2023-10-27 18:50
Gunman in Monterey Park mass shooting sent 'manifesto' to FBI, sheriff says
The gunman who opened fire during a Lunar New Year celebration near Los Angeles in January, killing 11 people and injuring others, sent writings to the FBI, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
2023-07-22 10:57
Famed restaurant Hamburger Mary’s sues Florida over DeSantis drag ban hurting business
A famous drag show restaurant has filed a lawsuit against the state of Florida and Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming a bill that prohibits children’s attendance at drag shows has hurt its business and is a violation of the First Amendment. Hamburger Mary’s Orlando, a franchise location of the drag show restaurant chain Hamburger Mary’s, is alleging that the state of Florida, “Seeks to explicitly restrict or chill speech and expression protected by the First Amendment” in a lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida on Monday. The lawsuit pertains to SB 1438, nicknamed the Protection of Children, which allows for criminal penalties against a food service establishment for admitting children to “an adult live performance.” The bill, which was signed into law by Mr DeSantis last week, prohibits children from attending adult live performances or the establishment can face fines, have their license suspended or revoked and their liquor license suspended or revoked. Hamburger Mary’s Orlando offers “family friendly” drag performances on Sundays, which they say have been greatly affected by the passage of SB 1438. “This bill has nothing to do with children, and everything to do with the continued oppression of the LGBTQ+ community,” Hamburger Mary’s Orlando wrote in a Facebook post. In the lawsuit, Hamburger Mary’s Orlando said “immediately” after the bill passed, 20 per cent of their bookings were cancelled for the 21 May 2023 show as well as future bookings despite the performances being “family friendly.” Hamburger Mary’s Orlando is alleging in the lawsuit that the bill does not serve a compelling governmental interest and is too vague, thus violating the restaurant’s First Amendment right to freedom of expression. “The law and anticipation of it has had a chilling effect on free speech in Florida,” the lawsuit says. The lawsuit names Mr DeSantis, the state of Florida, as well as Melanie Griffin, the Secretary of the State Department of Business and Professional Regulation for Florida, as defendants. The recent Protection of Children bill defines “adult live performance” as any presentation in front of a live audience where a part of it depicts sexual activity, sexual conduct, nudity, lewd exposure, lewd conduct, prosthetic or imitation genitals and more. Hamburger Mary’s Orlando claims, “There is no lewd activity, sexually explicit shows, disorderly conduct, public exposure, obscene exhibition, or anything inappropriate for a child to see” in their family-friendly brunches. The restaurant claims several undercover agents visited a drag brunch in December and did not witness “any lewd acts” that were inappropriate for children. Hamburger Mary’s Orlando is also alleging that the state of Florida has not provided examples of specific conduct that is harmful to children. “The uncertainty about what specific conduct this law prohibits, as well as the threat of police surveillance and criminal charges, is precisely what concerns the Plaintiff in this case,” the lawsuit says. Instead, Hamburger Mary’s Orlando believes this is another example of conservative leaders trying to restrict LGBT+ inclusivity in communities. “Anytime our legislators want to demonize a group, they say they are coming for your children. In this case, creating a false narrative that drag queens are grooming and recruiting your children with no factual basis or history to back up these accusations AT ALL,” Hamburger Mary’s Orlando wrote on Facebook. “They are setting a precedent that the state legislators [sic] can decide what is best for you based on THEIR own values and convictions, and write it into law,” Hamburger Mary’s Orlando added. The Independent has reached out to Hamburger Mary’s Orlando and Mr DeSantis’ office for comment. Read More Why are drag shows being targeted by the state of Tennessee and other republicans? Tampa Pride event cancelled over Ron DeSantis’ latest anti-LGBT+ laws Pride events cancelled across Florida due to ‘climate of fear’ after DeSantis’s anti-LGBT+ laws A famous restaurant chain has sued Florida over DeSantis’s drag ban Florida school bans poem recited by Amanda Gorman at Biden inauguration AP News Digest 3:10 am
2023-05-24 17:29
Arsenal & Liverpool tracking Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa after Chelsea snub
Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa, who rejected a transfer to Chelsea, is interesting Arsenal, Liverpool & Newcastle.
2023-09-08 21:16
Bengals extend quarterback Burrow in reported record deal
Cincinnati and Joe Burrow have agreed to a five-year, $275 million contract extension that will make the quarterback the highest-paid player in...
2023-09-08 09:56
China's central bank set to boost liquidity but keep policy rate steady
SHANGHAI China's central bank is expected to boost liquidity while keeping the borrowing cost steady when rolling over
2023-09-14 16:29
McLaren signs IndyCar racer Pato O’Ward as a reserve driver for the 2024 F1 season
Formula One team McLaren has signed its IndyCar racer Pato O’Ward as a reserve driver for next season
2023-11-24 02:19
How Lebanon's Hezbollah group became a critical player in the Israel-Hamas war
The Lebanese militia Hezbollah has traded fire with Israeli troops along the border since the day after Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip
2023-11-08 02:27
How tall is Michael Myers? Fictional character from 'Halloween' movie series possesses superhuman strength
The main antagonist of John Carpenter’s franchise, Micheal Myers is an emotionless serial killer who, at the age of six, murdered his older sister
2023-10-25 22:24
Is Irina Shayk isolating herself to protect her relationship with Tom Brady? Supermodel reportedly ensuring that 'there are no leaks'
'She really wants this to work. Tom [Brady] is her white whale. He’s an all-American nice guy,' said a source referring to Irina Shayk
2023-08-15 01:25
You Might Like...
Tokyo wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson balancing 2024 Olympic hopes with WWE training
Trent Alexander-Arnold names teammates who have helped shape his play style
Seven injured in Tel Aviv car ramming attack, Israeli police say
Bulls and bears are locked in a battle for Wall Street
'Love in Zion National' on Hallmark Full Cast List: From Cindy Busby to David Gridley, here are the stars
California governor vetoes bill requiring human drivers in autonomous trucks
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal: TV channel, team news, lineups & prediction
Belmont races, MLB game wiped out by wildfire smoke concerns