Fort Lauderdale News

Airline has to explain dress code double-standard

US Airways appears to hold a double-standard when it comes to passengers’ in-flight dress.

An older white man was allowed to board a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Phoenix on June 9 wearing women’s lingerie, including skimpy underwear, a tank top, black stockings and high-heeled shoes. Some fellow passengers complained, to no avail.

The cross-dresser was allowed to take his seat and continue on his merry way. He even posed for a picture for one of the passengers. Unbeknownst to him, she was offended and wanted photo evidence of his “unbelievable” outfit. It would be laughable, except for what happened six days later: The same airline removed DeShon Marman, a 19-year-old African-American who plays football for the University of New Mexico, from a flight at San Francisco International Airport. Airline officials have said Marman was exposing a body part and refused an employee’s request to pull up his saggy pants. A cellphone video by a fellow passenger caught a snippet of the interaction between Marman and airline personnel. The teen was persistent but respectful, sprinkling his conversation with “sir,” insisting he had pulled up his pants and simply wanted to get airborne. We don’t know what happened before and after the video was taken.

Marman eventually was arrested on suspicion of trespassing, battery of a police officer and obstruction.

Since the SL is such a big gay supporter and also known as the Gay Ledger what's the big deal about a cross dresser on a plane????? They should celebrate that..It's right up their alley..On the other hand I have seen responsible black leaders who wonder why black kids go around with their ass*s hanging out...That's not something that gives a good impression...Bu that doesn't offend the Ledger... Once again the Ledger picks and chooses- such as it did when they defended a pervert like Anthony Weiner while defending others who are just as perverted..No wonder the Ledger has turned into a rag that is only good for letting your dog go the bathroom on...Memo to the Ledger- hippies and idealism died long ago...

I think the airlines have much more to do to win back passengers than just define dress codes. If airlines continue to run their business as they did in the last couple of weeks they will be lucky to be around next year. The airline industry needs to learn how to run a service based business. Drive the passengers away and you have no business. I just read that the airline industry ranked worst of all industries. Beyond the endless fees, in the last week we heard that airlines did not do proper drug testing, kicked people off for cloth they wore and for being disabled, did not check that employees are legal aliens and tortured us with system crashes. I found a great site to your travel adventures at airlineslodgingetc.

LDS Church News - Groundbreaking for Ft. Lauderdale temple

"Florida will be brighter once a second temple is built within its borders," said Elder González, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy who oversees the North America Southeast Area and who was the presiding General Authority at the groundbreaking.

In his remarks, Elder González challenged members during this time of construction to keep their covenants, help the less active return to full fellowship and share the message of the Church.

After the dedicatory prayer, Elder González, Elder William R. Walker of the Seventy and director of the Church's Temple Department; Elder M. Anthony Burns, an Area Seventy; and Elder Robert C. Gay, an Area Seventy, turned the first shovels of dirt on the site. They were then joined by Ft. Lauderdale's mission president, Nathan Hale, and the six South Florida stake presidents: Mark Brown, Miami South; Albert Benzion, Miami Lakes; Bruce Bartholomew, Ft. Lauderdale; William Current, Pompano Beach; Wade Litchfield, Stuart; and Robert Pritt, Ft. Myers. With a gold shovel in each of their hands, they took more bites out of the dirt.

Plans to construct the Ft. Lauderdale temple were first announced by President Thomas S. Monson on Oct. 3, 2009. The Church purchased 32 acres of land where 12 acres will be used for the temple. Construction will take about two years, making it the second temple in Florida, after the Orlando Florida Temple, which was dedicated in 1994.

More than 200 invited guests attended the one-hour event, while thousands of others watched a broadcast of the groundbreaking via satellite at 25 chapels throughout South Florida. Included in the audience was Mayor Judy Paul of the Town of Davie.

Mayor Paul expressed her excitement for the new addition to the community. "We embrace diversity, and we embrace all new-comers to the town," she said. "We will make it as easy and comfortable as possible [for you] to be here."

Elder Burns, chair of the local temple committee, promised those living near the site that the Church will be a good neighbor. "You will drive by and peace will be in your hearts as you look at this structure," he said.

Art Waganheim, president of the River Stone Homeowners Association which is located across the street from the temple site, was also present at the event. He believes the project is a "win-win" situation for the neighboring homes to the temple because "it is an upscale facility that will bring attention to the area.

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