Browsed by
Month: June 2023

Hamburger Mary’s attorney fights ‘coast to coast’ for drag performers’ freedom

Hamburger Mary’s attorney fights ‘coast to coast’ for drag performers’ freedom

Just four days after a federal judge ruled a Tennessee law restricting drag shows was unconstitutional, attorney Brice Timmons was in an Orlando courtroom describing how a new Florida law was causing Hamburger Mary’s to censure its drag shows.

Timmons, a civil rights attorney with Memphis-based Donati Law, represented the Friends of George’s theater company in the Tennessee case, fighting a law that prohibited “adult cabaret” from taking place on public property or where children could see it.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker, appointed by President Donald Trump, ruled June 2 the Tennessee law was an unconstitutional restriction on freedom of speech. 

Timmons has brought his experience from the headline-making Tennessee case to the help of the Orlando Hamburger Mary’s, and he is also getting involved in fighting other drag show restrictions in Montana and Texas.

“If I’ve got to go coast-to-coast fighting these types of laws I will,” Timmons told the Orlando Sentinel this week. “What I really hope we’re doing here is building a road map… for other lawyers around the country to join in.” read more

Details revealed for Florida-bound Celebrity Ascent cruise ship

Details revealed for Florida-bound Celebrity Ascent cruise ship

Celebrity Cruises is lining up its fourth iteration of the groundbreaking Edge class of ships with the planned arrival of Celebrity Ascent to Florida this fall.

The line revealed details of the 140,600-gross-ton vessel set to begin preview sailings in late November from Port Everglades.

Just like Celebrity Edge that debuted in 2018 followed by Apex in 2019 and Beyond in 2022, Ascent will feature the standout Magic Carpet, an exterior elevator platform that acts primarily as an innovative way for passengers to disembark and reboard the ship when it tenders at ports of call, but also doubles as an entertainment and dining venue.

Celebrity Edge’s big and little touches make the difference

The ship will also feature the three-story venue called Eden at the aft of the ship that acts as lounge and avant-garde aerialist performance stage. Also returning are the popular Infinite Verandah staterooms in which the balcony is part of the cabin.

Still under construction at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, the ship got its first taste of water in January, but still has sea trials to come before making its way to Florida. read more