Seriously Florida?!?!

[laterbloomer]

Are you guys aware that the Toronto Maple Leafs are squaring off against The Florida Panthers in the second round of the Stanely Cup Playoffs? This is HUGE deal for the Leafs, it's been 20 years since they made it to the second round. And there are no sports fans more devoted tha Leaf fans. The Leafs haven't won a Stanley Cup in 55 years but every year Leaf fans insist THIS is the year.

And now Canadians are banned from buying tickets to the games played in Florida!!!!! WTF is it with Florida!?!?😡😡😡😡

[Opti]

It's Florida?

NJ Devils won FWIW. 

[busymom]

It's DeSantis country.  Need I say more?  (Love the people there, I just hate the politics.)

[Tennesseer]

Canadian residents barred 24 hours from buying tickets for Leafs games in Florida, Panthers say
Locals given 1st access on Monday for Games 3 and 4 of 2nd-round playoff series

Toronto Maple Leafs fans planning to attend the team's road games in the upcoming second-round NHL playoff series against Florida may find themselves with limited ticket options.

The Panthers have restricted early sales for Games 3 and 4 to American residents.

A team spokesperson told CBC News via email that U.S. residents would be given first access to tickets for 24 hours, starting Monday morning.

"Anyone can purchase tickets on the secondary markets today," said Adelyn Biedenbach, the Panthers' vice-president of communications.

The Maple Leafs have a fan base that travels well, particularly in the Snowbird-heavy Sunshine State.

News of restrictions led many fans to believe it was an effort to limit the number of Leafs supporters and maximize home-ice advantage. Under an 'Important Event Info' listing on the Ticketmaster website linked to the Panthers' site, a tab outlined sales requirements.

"FLA Live Arena is located in Sunrise, Florida. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of the United States. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside of the United States will be cancelled without notice and refunds given," it read.

More specifics were added to the tab later in the day.

"The pre-sale will end on May 2, 2023 at 11 a.m. Resale tickets are available for all buyers."

Dates for the Florida home games — which would include Game 6 if the best-of-seven series lasts that long — have not been announced.

Canadian residents barred 24 hours from buying tickets for Leafs games in Florida, Panthers say

[Tiny]

Canadian snowbirds don't vote - even if they own property in Florida.

[laterbloomer]

I love how they say "resale tickets are available to everyone" like being able to buy tickets for triple their face value is a legit option and makes everything OK.

[laterbloomer]

May 2, 2023 20:04:07 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Canadian snowbirds don't vote - even if they own property in Florida.

You are going to have to explain to me how that is relevant.

[Tennesseer]

According to my linked article it appears Canadians could begin buying tickets after 11 a.m. local today. Canadians were not able to buy tickets during the pre-sale period.

While I disagree with blocking anyone one from any country from buying tickets when tickets first became available, they are now available to be purchased by one and all.

"The pre-sale will end on May 2, 2023 at 11 a.m

[Opti]

May 2, 2023 20:07:13 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

May 2, 2023 20:04:07 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Canadian snowbirds don't vote - even if they own property in Florida.

You are going to have to explain to me how that is relevant.

Its relevant to DeSantis. According to the recent news, he's tanking in polls here and out of the country. 

[laterbloomer]

May 3, 2023 2:23:21 GMT -5 Opti said:

May 2, 2023 20:07:13 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

You are going to have to explain to me how that is relevant.

Its relevant to DeSantis. According to the recent news, he's tanking in polls here and out of the country. 

Okay, but I'm talking about buying tickets to a hockey game. This is way more important!

[Opti]

May 3, 2023 10:30:28 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

May 3, 2023 2:23:21 GMT -5 Opti said:

Its relevant to DeSantis. According to the recent news, he's tanking in polls here and out of the country. 

Okay, but I'm talking about buying tickets to a hockey game. This is way more important!

Who do you think put those rules in place? Governors are always very interested in winning teams in their state. He likes stacking the deck and even if he didn't hint or outright ask, there are many rich people who are in Florida for the politics and taxes. 

[Opti]

Later, you might want to read this story on the owner. Looks like he likes stacking the deck as well,


www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/owner-vinnie-viola-talks-tkachuk-kentucky-derby-and-how-panthers-became-a-playoff-staple/ar-AA1aDjZF

His Panthers, the team he has owned since 2015 and suddenly turned into one of the most successful franchises in the NHL, just pulled off perhaps the greatest upset in the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs and now is in Round 2 for only the third time ever. Forte, a horse he owns, is favored to win Viola his second Kentucky Derby Trophy.



There’s only one problem: The 2023 Kentucky Derby is Saturday and Florida’s first home game of the second round might be, too.

The Panthers made the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs at the end of the season — although, only because they were expanded because of the COVID-19 pandemic — and then started making even more changes. They hired Bill Zito in 2020, and the general manager has completely reshaped the roster, trading away four first-round picks, as well as star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau and star defenseman MacKenzie Weegar in a trade to get superstar right wing Matthew Tkachuk from the Flames in the offseason.



Only three players — Bobrovsky, star defenseman Aaron Ekblad and All-Star center Aleksander Barkov — are still left from when Zito took over, and he even moved on from former interim coach Andrew Brunette to instead hire coach Paul Maurice last year after Florida flamed out in the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.

[Opti]

May 5, 2023 10:29:26 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

And now DeSantis will add another duty to his special election police force: the kidnapping of Florida children.

Florida legislature passes bill to allow state to take custody of children subjected to transgender treatment

The Florida legislature passed a bill that bans transgender surgeries for minors and grants jurisdiction over children receiving gender-related treatment to courts in the state. The bill will head to Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) desk, where he is expected to sign it.

The bill has been amended to include a provision granting courts "temporary emergency jurisdiction" of minors if they have been "subjected to or is threatened with being subjected to sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures." This temporary jurisdiction would play out most visibly in interstate child custody battles, according to the Poynter Institute.

SB 254 passed the Florida House by an 83-28 vote on Thursday after passing the Florida Senate by a 26-13 vote earlier in the day.

DeSantis has previously called it "not acceptable" that transgender surgeries be allowed for minors.

Rest of article here: Florida legislature passes bill to allow state to take custody of children subjected to transgender treatment

So DeSantis advocates for the state to step in and over-rule parental rights and children's rights. Hmmm as a fetus they are so important DeSantis wants to make sure all fetuses are required to be born no matter if they die after birth, require major expensive medical care, are addicted to crack, etc. but transgender is a bridge too far for him?

Is he micro-chipping them so they vote for the GOP for life? Does he need the not so viable fetuses to infant population for secret experiments in mind control? What is up with this guy? Does he have a fetish role-playing dungeon in his basement for his string of secret paramours?

[andi9899]

Ron DeSantis is a 🍆.

[thyme4change]

I wish more teams would encourage home team fans to fill the stadium. In most sports around here every home game is basically an away game. It’s annoying. If a city can’t stack the deck for the home team, why do they keep buying them jillion dollar stadiums. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Tennesseer]

laterbloomer -

[TheOtherMe]

For the Field of Dreams games held here every August, there is an allotment for sale to people with Iowa zip codes only.  Those tickets get scalped for big $$$

[Tennesseer]

U.S. court strikes down Florida transgender health rule

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday struck down a Florida rule and a statute that banned state Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare, marking the second defeat in two weeks for anti-transgender legislation in the state.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle declared the state's practices invalid, saying they violated the constitutional right to equal protection under the 14th amendment in addition to violating the federal Medicaid statue and the Affordable Care Act's prohibition of sex discrimination.

The injunction was expected after Hinkle on June 6 partially blocked Florida from enforcing its recent ban on people under 18 receiving gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

U.S. district court judges elsewhere have blocked state laws banning gender-affirming care in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana and Oklahoma.

Republican lawmakers introduced more than 500 bills restricting LGBTQ rights this past legislative year, passing more than 70, according to Human Rights Campaign. Twenty states have passed laws banning gender-affirming care for minors.

Sponsors of the laws say they want to protect children who are being misled by parents and doctors and might regret their gender transition.

Rest of article here: U.S. court strikes down Florida transgender health rule

[thyme4change]

Jun 22, 2023 10:14:06 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

U.S. court strikes down Florida transgender health rule

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday struck down a Florida rule and a statute that banned state Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare, marking the second defeat in two weeks for anti-transgender legislation in the state.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle declared the state's practices invalid, saying they violated the constitutional right to equal protection under the 14th amendment in addition to violating the federal Medicaid statue and the Affordable Care Act's prohibition of sex discrimination.

The injunction was expected after Hinkle on June 6 partially blocked Florida from enforcing its recent ban on people under 18 receiving gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

U.S. district court judges elsewhere have blocked state laws banning gender-affirming care in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana and Oklahoma.

Republican lawmakers introduced more than 500 bills restricting LGBTQ rights this past legislative year, passing more than 70, according to Human Rights Campaign. Twenty states have passed laws banning gender-affirming care for minors.

Sponsors of the laws say they want to protect children who are being misled by parents and doctors and might regret their gender transition.

Rest of article here: U.S. court strikes down Florida transgender health rule

That is a good start.

We saw Hairspray last night (broadway touring live - not the movie) and my husband said ‘This would be illegal in Tennessee’ - but the guy in drag was fantastic!!!!

[Tennesseer]

Jun 22, 2023 10:46:25 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Jun 22, 2023 10:14:06 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

U.S. court strikes down Florida transgender health rule

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday struck down a Florida rule and a statute that banned state Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare, marking the second defeat in two weeks for anti-transgender legislation in the state.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle declared the state's practices invalid, saying they violated the constitutional right to equal protection under the 14th amendment in addition to violating the federal Medicaid statue and the Affordable Care Act's prohibition of sex discrimination.

The injunction was expected after Hinkle on June 6 partially blocked Florida from enforcing its recent ban on people under 18 receiving gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

U.S. district court judges elsewhere have blocked state laws banning gender-affirming care in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana and Oklahoma.

Republican lawmakers introduced more than 500 bills restricting LGBTQ rights this past legislative year, passing more than 70, according to Human Rights Campaign. Twenty states have passed laws banning gender-affirming care for minors.

Sponsors of the laws say they want to protect children who are being misled by parents and doctors and might regret their gender transition.

Rest of article here: U.S. court strikes down Florida transgender health rule

That is a good start.

We saw Hairspray last night (broadway touring live - not the movie) and my husband said ‘This would be illegal in Tennessee’ - but the guy in drag was fantastic!!!!

Hairspray the movie and then the musical movie was a good watch.

Saw La Cage aux Folles on Broadway in 1983. Same about the drag.

Good news is a judge ruled against Tennessee's drag law earlier this month.

Federal judge tosses Tennessee's controversial anti-drag law, declares it unconstitutional

[Tennesseer]

[laterbloomer]

Jun 22, 2023 18:06:33 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

🤣🤣