theFeed Azar’s rule change, and ask him to stand with children across the country who are seeking safe, supportive homes free from discrimination.” “Our goal should always be to find loving and supportive homes for kids in need,” added Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), a father of three. “This rule change is completely unacceptable. It will harm the safety and wellbeing of innocent children who are in our foster care system, and open the door to discrimination against parents who are ready, willing and able to provide a supportive home.”
the door to discrimination against same-sex couples and stifle the voices of LGBTQ youth in the foster care system who are experiencing mistreatment. “Every child deserves a safe and loving home, but unfortunately LGBTQ children and parents face significant discrimination in the foster care and adoption system,” U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), a co-chair of the caucus who is raising four sons with her wife Cheryl. “As a mother, and as someone who faced adoption discrimination for being a part of the LGBTQ community two decades ago, I strongly denounce Secretary
Sundgaard
Stormy Situation
Gay weatherman fired after calling out armed lockdown protesters in Minnesota. By Rhuaridh Marr
A
GAY WEATHERMAN IN MINNESOTA WAS FIRED after sharing a Facebook post criticizing armed rightwing protesters for gathering outside the governor’s home to demand an end to the state’s stay-at-home order. Sven Sundgaard, 39, had worked for KARE 11 in Minneapolis, Minn., for 14 years, but the station opted to cut ties with him after he shared a post by Michael Adam Latz, a rabbi in the city, Queerty reports. The protesters gathered outside the home of Gov. Tim Waltz (D) on April 17, after President Donald Trump tweeted for his supporters to “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” The protesters waved Trump campaign flags and carried weapons including rifles, with one person also holding a sign with the word “Fuhrer” and an image of Waltz that had been altered to include a Hitler-style moustache. In the Facebook post shared by Sundgaard, who converted to Judaism after being raised Christian, Rabbi Latz called the protesters “white nationalist Nazi sympathizer gun fetishist miscreants.”
After a far-right news outlet reported on the post, it was shared by former Republican Congressman Jason Lewis, who is currently running for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota. Sundgaard later deleted the post, but KARE11 announced this month that he had been fired. “Due to continued violations of KARE11’s news ethics and other policies, we have made the decision to part ways with Sven Sundgaard,” the station wrote on Facebook. “We hope you continue to turn to KARE 11 for your news, traffic, weather and more.” However, the decision didn’t go down well with some of KARE 11’s viewers. One person wrote that they are “on the side of science and Sven. Due to the poor ethics of KARE 11, I have decided to part ways with KARE 11.” “Sad that a weatherman is held to a higher standard than our current president,” wrote another. This week, Sundgaard commented publicly for the first time on his dismissal, saying that he disagreed with KARE 11’s deciMAY 14, 2020 • METROWEEKLY.COM
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