Stupid people of the week

Minnesota Dems strike language excluding pedophilia as protected category under discrimination laws

A new bill in the Minnesota Legislature strikes language from the state’s definition of “sexual orientation,” for the purposes of discrimination and other state laws, that excluded sexual attraction to a child as a protected category.

HF 1655 added the term “gender identity” and generated a definition for the term to be used as a guide for related legal matters going forward. The new law also “remov[ed] certain sections in the human rights act that allow for discrimination based on sexual orientation,” according to the bill’s text.

One of the sections removed broadened anti-discrimination laws around housing, including stripping a previous statute allowing residents seeking to rent out one of their extra rooms to deny applicants on the basis of their sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation or disability.

But the more shocking amendment included in HF 1655 is the removal of “a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult” from the state’s definition of “sexual orientation.”

In a nutshell, Democrats in the legislature are seeking to eliminate the exclusion of pedophilia as a protected category when it comes to matters of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The National Desk (TND) reached out to numerous Minnesota state legislators for clarification on the matter, and to inquire why such a category should be protected under Minnesota’s anti-gay discrimination laws.

HF 1655 has garnered criticism online, but proponents of the bill argue the language being stricken worked to foster a discriminatory connection that attraction to children is related to one being attracted to members of the same sex.

HF 1655 was introduced as part of the state House’s omnibus civil law policy bill, which is scheduled for a Tuesday floor vote, according to Minnesota’s Alpha News.

The outlet reported that Republicans intend to introduce a competing amendment to clarify that adults with “a physical or sexual attachment to children” are not a protected class under the state’s human rights laws.

Source; WTOV9

Belgian authorities destroyed 2,352 cans of American beer advertised as ‘The Champagne of Beers’ because it is not, in fact, Champagne

Earlier this week, Belgian authorities destroyed every single drop of a shipment of 2,352 cans of Miller High Life in Ypres, Belgium. The beers, labeled as “The Champagne of Beers,” had first arrived in the country in February.

A joint statement issued by the authorities and France’s Champagne Committee, a trade organization representing the French region of Champagne, confirmed the beers were destroyed because they infringed on the “protected designation” of Champagne.

It went on to refer to the beers as “illicit goods” and said the recipient of the beer in Germany, where the cans were headed, did not contest the decision to destroy it. It’s not clear from the statement who was importing the beers.

Charles Goemaere, managing director of France’s Champagne Committee, said the eradication of the Miller High Life beers highlighted “the importance that the European Union attaches to designations of origin and rewards the determination of the Champagne producers to protect their designation.”

He also congratulated Belgian authorities for their “vigilance.”

Kristian Vanderwaeren, Administrator of the Belgian Customs Service, also spoke on the seizure and called the beers “counterfeit.”

According to the statement, the container was destroyed with “the utmost respect for environmental concerns” and “was recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.”

In a statement provided to Insider, Molson Coors, the parent company of Miller High Life, said the beer has “proudly worn the nickname ‘The Champagne of Beers’ for almost 120 years.”

“We debuted the brand just before New Year’s Eve in 1903,” it added. “Of course, we respect local restrictions around the word ‘champagne,’ but we remain proud of Miller High Life, its nickname and its Milwaukee, Wisconsin provenance. We invite our friends in Europe to the U.S. any time to toast the High Life together.”

But by advertising the alcoholic beverage in such a way, the beers crossed into murky waters with European regulations that stipulate that any goods that infringe upon a protected designation of origin of a member state are “counterfeit goods.”

Champagne, the sparkling wine and its name, has been protected by European law that says it can only be used for wines made in the region made through a regulated production process since the 1980s, according to France’s Champagne Committee website.

Source; Insider

PETA Activists Say New York City Officials Shouldn’t Kill ‘Sensitive’ Rats

Remember that PETA is known for killing the vast majority of dogs taken into their shelter.

PETA activists said that New York City residents need to change their garbage habits to spare the killings of the city’s “sensitive“ rats.

“I don’t think any of us want to see the city filled with rats the way it is right now and that includes PETA and other people who care about animals,” PETA’s communications director Ashley Byrne, a 13-year Brooklyn resident, told The New York Post on Thursday.

“The rats you see on the streets are still sensitive, intelligent animals and they deserve better than to be killed in gruesome, painful ways,” she added.

Byrne added that the animals are “here through no fault of their own,” that they should not be referred to as pests, and that the city needs to cut off their source of food from garbage.

“As long as the garbage is there and unchecked the rats will be there,” Byrne told The Post. “We have a disgusting human behavior problem, not a rat problem.”

Adams announced Wednesday that he appointed Kathleen Corradi to be New York City’s “rat czar.” The job description, which has since been taken down, requires “a general aura of badassery.”

“New York City has done a lot recently when it comes to fighting public enemy number one: rats,” Adams said Wednesday. “But it was clear we needed someone solely focused on leading our rat reduction efforts across all five boroughs.”

How’d you like to put “NYC Rat Czar” on your resume? Source; Daily Caller

‘Come on I work for Martin County Sheriff’s’: Deputy arrested for theft at Walmart

A Martin County Sheriff’s deputy who has been with the department for about five years is facing petit theft charges.

Nelson Garcia is accused of stealing groceries, medication and baby clothes from a Walmart on Gatlin Boulevard in Port St. Lucie on several different occasions, the sheriff’s office said during a news conference.

On one incident, after the loss prevention officer reviewed the items Garcia allegedly didn’t scan at the self-checkout register, the total of unpaid items was $128.17, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Port St. Lucie police then conducted an investigation.

During the questioning, Nelson just stood there and said “really for eggs and fruit? Come on I work for Martin County Sheriff’s,” the affidavit states.

Officials with the sheriff’s office said Garcia is on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Source; WPFB

Category: "Teh Stoopid", Crime, Stupid Criminals