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North Carolina: Ironman Athletes Choose Other States Due To HB2

Competitive sports organization Ironman reports that about 200 of their athletes have chosen to transfer to races in states other than North Carolina due to the controversial, anti-LGBT legislation, HB2.

Ironman had reached out to it’s registrants via email, giving the athletes until May 9th to change switch to another North American race.

From the Charlotte Observer:

“As many of you are aware, the state of North Carolina recently approved a bill that has raised the concerns of many, including us at Ironman,” the organization said in an email to registrants. “While we plan to move forward with our races in Raleigh and Wilmington, we recognize that some of you may no longer wish to race in North Carolina.”

“Ironman is an all-inclusive sport and we will continue to always provide an arena for all individuals to pursue their goals and dreams of becoming an Ironman,” the organization said in the email.

HB2 sets a statewide class of nondiscrimination that does not include sexual orientation or gender identity. It also requires people in government facilities to use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender on their birth certificate. The bill, which overturned a Charlotte non-discrimination ordinance, was signed into law March 23.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department sent state leaders a letter saying that HB2 violates the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 – a finding that could jeopardize billions in federal education funding. Those laws ban employment discrimination and discrimination in education based on sex.

A number of major businesses have come out against the law, including Bank of America, Lowe’s and American Airlines. PayPal scrapped an expansion in Charlotte, musicians have canceled concerts and conventions have pulled out of the state.

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Chaos In Congress As Republican Lawmakers Vote Down LGBT Protections

For a brief period of time, House Democrats were celebratory in the belief that they had passed an amendment to a defense authorization bill that would have prevented federal contractors from federal jobs if they discriminate against LGBTs.

But shortly after the vote showed the amendment had passed, the numbers began to change even though it seemed the clock had run out on voting.

Via Politico:

It was an unruly scene on the floor, with Democrats chanting “shame!” after GOP leaders just barely muscled up the votes to reject, 212-213, an amendment by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) that would have effectively barred federal contractors from getting government work if they discriminate against the LGBT community.

At one point, a monitor in the House gallery showed there were 217 votes supporting the legislation, eliciting cheers of joy from Democrats who thought the measure might actually pass. But over the course of about 10 minutes, those votes suddenly dropped one by one to 212 — and the amendment failed.

A number of lawmakers from western states, who originally voted yes, changed their votes. According to a list tweeted out an hour after the vote by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) office, they included: Reps. Darrell Issa (Calif.), David Valadao (Calif.), Jeff Denham (Calif.), Greg Walden (Ore.), Mimi Walters (Calif.), David Yong (Iowa) and Bruce Poliquin (Maine). Their offices have not yet responded to request for comment.

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Trailer: SUPERGIRL – Season 2 On The CW

Pardon me while I do my “geek out” thing here.

While CBS may have passed on renewing Supergirl, I’m excited that the show will have a sophomore season on the CW this fall. Truth be told – it’s really where the show belongs.

I’ll be curious to see how the crossovers happen with The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow.

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Pat Robertson On Drug Addicts: “Let’em Starve To Death”

“Christian” televangelist Pat Robertson told his TV audience today that drug addicts who won’t work should simply starve.

Cause that’s what Jesus would do?

Right Wing Watch has the details:

A viewer from Massachusetts cited a Boston Herald article about the strain that addicted and mentally ill “super-utilizers” are putting on Boston’s hospitals and Medicaid system and complained that she’s finding it hard to be charitable toward drug addicts who are intentionally overdosing and wasting resources that she is paying for with her taxes.

Robertson responded by citing 2 Thessalonians 3:10, which says that “if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat,” as justification for allowing addicts to starve to death.

“There are a bunch of people who are just bums and they’re trying to ride in on the charity of others,” Robertson said. “Tough love will say, ‘I’m not going to give you something.’ … If these people are out drugging themselves, let ’em starve to death. I know that sounds hard, but that’s the way it’s got to be.”

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Philly Gay-Bashing Victims File Civil Lawsuit Against Attackers

The two men who were the victims of a violent gay-bashing in September of 2014 in Philadelphia have filed a civil lawsuit against their attackers.

Both victims say that in addition to their physical injuries, they suffered psychological injury, emotional distress and embarrassment.

From PhillyMag.com:

Earlier this week, Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught filed a civil suit against Kathryn Knott, Kevin Harrigan and Philip Williams for their roles in the attack.

Harrigan and Williams both escaped jail time when they pleaded guilty last year to simple assault and conspiracy and aggravated assault and conspiracy, respectively, while Knott was convicted by a jury of simple assault, conspiracy, and two counts of recklessly endangering another person. She is currently serving a sentence of five to ten months at Riverside Correctional Facility in Northeast Philadelphia, imposed in February.

The suit, filed by the prominent Center City law firm Kline & Specter, seeks unspecified damages. Neither the plaintiffs’ attorneys nor the defendants were immediately available for comment.

One of the men attacked, Andrew Haught, had injuries so severe he needed emergency surgery and spent five days in the hospital. He suffered a fractured jaw bone and orbital bone, and permanent facial scarring, in addition to other injuries. His jaw was wired shut for eight weeks.

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Hillary Clinton To CNN: “I Will Be The Nominee”

Former Secretary of State and current Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, during an in-depth one-on-one interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo, that the Democratic nomination will be hers, saying, “I will be the nominee of my party. That is already done, in effect. There is no way that I won’t be.”

I’m sure the Bernie Bros’ heads will explode over that comment. But, the fact of the matter is – she will be the nominee.

Hillary also stated categorically that she feels Donald Trump is not qualified to be president of the United States:

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Donald Trump Accuses Bill Clinton Of Rape

In a preview of what we can expect in the upcoming general election between Republican Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Fox News host Sean Hannity brought up 20+ year old allegations against President Bill Clinton in an interview with Trump.

Hannity was discussing the recent New York Times piece that delved into Trump’s past treatment (or mistreatment) of women. Hannity pivoted to sexual accusation’s against Bill Clinton from the 1990s.

From USA Today:

“I looked at The New York Times. Are they going to interview Juanita Broaddrick? Are they going to interview Paula Jones? Are they going to interview Kathleen Willey?” Hannity asked. “In one case, it’s about exposure. In another case it’s about groping and fondling and touching against a woman’s will.”

“And rape,” Trump said.

Trump is referring to Broaddrick’s 1999 accusation that Clinton raped her in Little Rock, Ark. during his 1978 campaign for governor of the state. Clinton’s attorney called the allegations “absolutely false” in a statement in 1999, according to The Washington Post. In 1998, Broaddrick, a nursing home administrator, called the charges “untrue” in a sworn affidavit, which she later disavowed. No charges were ever brought in the case.

So, clearly Trump plans to make the alleged “sins of the husband” the sins of Hillary.

How very presidential of the Trumpster.

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“60 Minutes” Reporter Morley Safer Dead At 84

Morley Safer, the legendary reporter who became the longest-serving reporter for CBS’s “60 Minutes” news magazine, has died at 84.

Safer retired just last week after 46 seasons with the venerable news magazine.

“A masterful storyteller, inspiration to many of us and a wonderful friend,” “60 Minutes” producer Jeff Fager tweeted Thursday.

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Security Guard Charged After Assaulting/Ejecting Trans Woman From Grocery Store Bathroom

Ebony Belcher

From NBC Washington:

D.C. police have charged a security guard at a Giant grocery store with simple assault after a transgender woman said the guard forced her out of the women’s restroom.

Ebony Belcher, 32, said she went to the Giant in northeast D.C. with a friend to pick up a delivery from the Western Union.

While at the Giant, she asked a store employee to point her to the restroom and passed a female security officer standing in the hallway.

The officer came into the restroom and told her to get out, according to Belcher.

“She opened the door and came in and started calling me derogatory names,” Belcher said.

She said the officer put her hand on her shoulder and arm, grabbed her and pushed her out of the store.

Belcher said the guard told her, “You guys cannot keep coming in here and using our women’s restroom. They did not pass the law yet.”

She said she called police and reported the incident after she left the store. According to a police report, officers arrested the guard at the Giant after the confrontation.

And so it begins…

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Bernie Sanders Wants One More Debate

Bernie Sanders campaign wants one final debate with front-runner Hillary Clinton in California ahead of the Golden State’s primary on June 7th.

From The Hill:

In a Wednesday afternoon statement, Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said the Vermont senator has accepted an invitation from Fox News to debate “with the understanding that we can reach mutual agreement on the debate moderators, the format and other details.”

Weaver said both campaigns in January agreed to hold a debate in May in California, adding that the Clinton campaign has “balked at keeping that pledge.”

“More than half way through the month of May, we hope Secretary Clinton will soon make good on her campaign’s commitment and agree to a time and pace for a debate,” Weaver said in the statement.

In my opinion, I can’t imagine what voters could learn from one more evening of Bernie sniping at Hillary.

And on Fox News, no less. Clearly, it would be an opportunity for the right-wing news outlet to attack Clinton.