Zoekresultaten: usa

  • Publishers win lawsuit against controversial book ban in Florida

    Marc Dirix

    A federal judge ruled last Friday that Florida’s HB2019 law, which allowed parents to remove books with alleged sexual content from school libraries and classrooms, was overly broad and unconstitutional.
    “Historically, librarians curate their collections based on professional judgment, not by orders from above,” the judge stated. “There are also indications that the law swept up far more non-obscene books than just the titles mentioned here.”

    The law was also used to remove, in addition to titles such as Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Richard Wright’s Native Son, and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, books with LGBTQ themes from school libraries.

    Last year alone, some 4,500 books were pulled from various school libraries. Under the 2023 law, Florida schools could be pressured to remove books deemed “inappropriate” or “too pornographic” by parents. In the Collier County School District, more than 350 books were removed under HB1069, including If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo and Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett. Other well-known LGBTQ+ titles, such as And Tango Makes Three, I Am Jazz, and Jacob’s New Dress, were also banned across multiple Florida districts due to the law’s vague wording. According to research by PEN America, 39% of the books removed in more than one district were LGBTQ-related.

    Several major publishers, including Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishing, and Simon & Schuster, joined with a number of authors to challenge the law in court. The judge’s ruling emphasized that schools must rely on a U.S. Supreme Court precedent: whether the average person would find the work as a whole sexually arousing; whether it depicts sexual content in an offensive manner; and whether the work lacks literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

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  • Florida Subpoenas Restaurant Over Drag Show Guests

    Marc Dirix

    The public prosecutor of the U.S. state of Florida has ordered a popular restaurant in Vero Beach to identify all attendees of its drag shows.

    Last month, The Kilted Mermaid restaurant hosted a drag performance to celebrate Pride Month. According to Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, “adult, sexualized performers” performed in the presence of children.
    In May, a federal court ruled that a 2023 law banning drag shows in Florida may be unconstitutional. The law, supported by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, aimed to punish venues that allow children to attend “adult live performances.” While drag shows were not explicitly mentioned, the sponsor of the legislation stated that such performances were indeed the target. Under the law, establishments could have their liquor licenses revoked. The court temporarily blocked the law after a local restaurant that hosted drag shows filed a legal challenge, arguing the measure violated free speech rights.

     

    That suspension did not stop Uthmeier from issuing a subpoena to The Kilted Mermaid. The subpoena, issued earlier this month, requests copies of guest lists, reservation records, surveillance footage, and contracts identifying performers. The prosecutor announced the action in a press release, which was filled with anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and attacked the tens of thousands of people who have attended drag events in the state: “In Florida, we don’t sacrifice the innocence of children for the perversions of some demented adults.”

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  • Police raid well-known LGBTQ+ bar in Pittsburgh

    Marc Dirix

    Last Friday, the police in Pittsburgh raided a well-known LGBTQ+ bar, the P Town Bar, during an ongoing drag show. According to the owners and present customers, the surprise inspection was reminiscent of the police raids on LGBTQ+ venues in the 1960s and 70s.

    Around twenty officers, including several undercover agents, took part in the raid, which began around 11:30 p.m. Customers and staff were forced to wait outside while the police searched the entire building. According to the owners, several agencies were involved, including the fire department and public health services, and all permits were checked. The venue’s managers explained that the inspection was related to a recent renovation and a renewed permit application.

    Despite this explanation, many customers felt targeted and unfairly treated by the police. They had to wait for about half an hour in heavy rain before being allowed back inside. The authorities of Pittsburgh stated that the raid had not been authorized and have launched an investigation.

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  • La police fait une descente dans un bar LGBTQ+ connu à Pittsburgh

    Marc Dirix

    Vendredi dernier, la police de Pittsburgh a effectué une descente dans un bar LGBTQ+ bien connu, le P Town Bar, alors qu’un spectacle de drag était en cours. Selon les propriétaires et les clients présents, cette descente surprise rappelle les raids policiers dans les bars LGBTQ+ des années 60 et 70.

    Une vingtaine de policiers, dont plusieurs en civil, ont participé à l’opération, qui a commencé vers 23h30. Les clients et le personnel ont été contraints d’attendre dehors pendant que la police fouillait l’ensemble du bâtiment. D’après les propriétaires, plusieurs services étaient impliqués, notamment les pompiers et les services de santé publique, et tous les permis ont été contrôlés. Toujours selon les exploitants, ces contrôles s’inscrivent dans le cadre du renouvellement des autorisations après des rénovations récentes.

     

    Malgré ces explications, de nombreux clients estiment avoir été ciblés et traités de manière injuste par la police. Ils ont dû attendre environ une demi-heure sous une pluie battante avant de pouvoir rentrer. Les autorités de Pittsburgh n’avaient pas ordonné cette opération et ont ouvert une enquête.

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  • Belgium Opposes U.S. Ban on Diversity Policies

    Marc Dirix

    Both our country and France are displeased with the letter sent via U.S. embassies to European companies doing business with the U.S. government. That letter exerts pressure on European companies to end their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

    Shortly after taking office, Donald Trump signed several executive orders mandating the termination of all DEI programs in American companies. Foreign companies that supply goods and services to U.S. government agencies also fall under these directives. In recent weeks, many companies have already scrapped their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

    This weekend, it was also revealed that European companies — including several Belgian ones — received a letter via U.S. embassies containing the order to halt their diversity programs as well.

    As soon as the reports surfaced, the FPS Foreign Affairs immediately contacted the U.S. embassy. Belgium has clearly expressed its concerns and is now assessing the legal implications for the affected companies.

    The issue is not only one of principle, but also legally relevant: the U.S. embassy must act in accordance with Belgian law. If contracts are terminated solely because a company is committed to diversity and inclusion, that could constitute a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

    “It is deeply regrettable that the United States — a country whose administration once led the defense of shared values such as diversity — is now taking a step backward,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot (Les Engagés) in a press release. “Belgium will not back down an inch. We remain firmly committed to an inclusive society in which companies are free to attract, support, and nurture talent. Those who dismantle diversity limit themselves and undermine their own economic future.”

    Diversity and inclusion are not optional ideals, but the foundations of a strong economy and dynamic society. They drive innovation, strengthen competitiveness, and allow talent to reach its full potential. “Those who see inclusion as an obstacle fail to realize that it is in fact a lever for progress,” Prévot emphasized.

    The Belgian federal government leaves no room for doubt: equal opportunities are central to the coalition agreement and remain a steadfast pillar of our policy. Undermining inclusion programs harms not only the companies themselves, but also broader cooperation between the European Union and the United States.

    “Belgium will continue to promote an open and inclusive business environment within Europe,” Prévot concluded. “We stand for our values and our economic model, based on collaboration, innovation, and respect for everyone’s talent. This is not a matter of preference, but of progress and forward-looking policy.”

     

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