Target Corporation has announced changes to its LGBTQ merchandise ahead of Pride month, following threats and violent confrontations with its workers. The company is removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior, though it did not specify which ones. The decision has been met with mixed reactions from the LGBTQ community, with some praising the company for taking a stand against violence and others criticizing it for capitulating to those who oppose LGBTQ rights. Target will continue to celebrate Pride month and support the LGBTQ community.
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul released a report Tuesday revealing that more than 450 Catholic clergy have sexually abused nearly 2,000 children in the state since 1950. The report also found that church leadership had covered up the abuse, and Raoul said it was his hope that the report would “shine light both on those who violated their positions of power and trust to abuse innocent children, and on the men in church leadership who covered up that abuse.” Raoul said that the report was a “call to action” for the Catholic Church to take responsibility for its past and to ensure that such abuse never happens again.
Lawmakers have proposed a sweeping 500-page bill to revamp the U.S. immigration system, creating a 12-year path to legal status, speeding up the asylum process, and docking the pay of people without legal status to fund border infrastructure. The bill has been praised by both Republicans and Democrats, and is seen as a step forward in the effort to create a humane and effective solution to the challenges facing the country.
A coalition of civil rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, have issued a travel advisory for Florida due to newly passed laws and policies, such as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The advisory warns potential visitors to be aware of the risks associated with the state before making any travel plans. Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement, “Those who visit must join us in their vocal opposition to these dangerous policies.”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) has sparked outrage with his remark that he looks forward to the day Democrats are so rare they have to be hunted with dogs. The Anderson County Democratic Party has started a petition calling for an apology and an investigation, and the South Carolina Democratic Party has issued a statement condemning the comments as "unacceptable" and "dangerous". Hundreds of South Carolina residents have signed the petition, and McMaster has yet to respond.
John Manchec, a 78-year-old millionaire held in the Indian River County jail since 2019, was foiled in his attempt to escape after a two-month investigation by the sheriff's office. The elaborate plan involved waiting until Manchec had a doctor's visit and then taking out the corrections staff while he was at the medical facility. Manchec and the other individuals involved in the plan have been charged with conspiracy to escape and aiding and abetting, respectively. The sheriff's office is reminding the public that any attempt to assist an inmate in escaping from jail is a serious crime.
Donald Trump made a virtual appearance in New York criminal court on Tuesday, his first since pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Judge Juan Merchan issued a protective order barring Trump from publicly disclosing evidence, which the Manhattan district attorney's office will be turning over to his lawyers. The setup is rare and was used to avoid the disruption of a security operation that accompanied Trump's in-person arraignment on April 4.
Hamburger Mary's, a popular Florida burger joint, is challenging a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in federal court that restricts drag show performances and subjects businesses in violation of the law to liquor license revocation and hefty fines. The lawsuit alleges that the law violates the First Amendment rights of Hamburger Mary's to free expression, and the restaurant is asking the court to halt enforcement of the law until the case is resolved.