Monthly Archives: July 2015
#TrumpYourCat: Felines Mimic Donald Trump's Iconic Comb-Over in Hilarious Meme
#TrumpYourCat: Felines Mimic Donald Trump's Iconic Comb-Over in Hilarious Meme
Cat lovers are teasing their pets’ hair-dos in a joking social media homage to the real estate tycoon’s “huh?”-worthy hairstyle.
Mitch Kellaway
A Gay Dad Sounds Off On Christians Who Are Reluctant To Attend Gay Weddings
A Gay Dad Sounds Off On Christians Who Are Reluctant To Attend Gay Weddings
On the Friday of the Supreme Court Marriage Equality Ruling, the news hit like a rainbow colored Tsunami. As I woke up that morning, I got a message from my friend Kevin of Stop-Homophobia. As one of my marriage equality heroes, he was the one from whom I would have wanted to hear the news.
“We won.” I could barely breathe.
That day, for me, and many LGBT people I know, was a awash with shock, awe and wonderment. Everything was coming up dancing rainbows.
Waves are only temporary however, and the tide that thrusts them forward, quickly retreats them. That is what happened the next day. Some heads had exploded, and it was not pretty.
I began to realize that many people who had been long silent in this conversation were now engaged. On Friday, it seemed new participants in the debate woke up, the ones who had apparently been in a political issue coma for the past few years. Suddenly the anti-gay discussions were not the same ones we had been arguing about last week. It was like we were starting the conversation all over.
I guess that is to be expected. Patiently, I found myself in the old discussions about polygamy, gay pride parades and “sin.” The feeling of astronomical progress now felt like a reversal into retro thinking. Even if the points were old and worn out, there was something new about the conversations. Rather than exuding homophobia, these seemed to be more from a place of heterosexism. The opponents were not specifically looking to condemn and demean, but only to assert their own “obvious” superiority.
This tone played out in post after post, tweet after tweet, but it really hit home for me when someone sent me an article titled “Would You Attend a Gay Friend’s Wedding?” by Brian Orme. Mr. Orme presented a theory and then invited discussion: “There are two kinds of Christians in the world today—those who would and those who wouldn’t attend a gay friend’s wedding. So who’s right?”
His treatise was basically that, in his experience of Christianity, Christians might choose to love and not focus on judging the sin of the couple, and attend the wedding to which they had been invited. Or they might see their own attendance as an “endorsement of sin” and not attend. So to him, that was the only choice, that, in his words, the Christian guests would either be “humble sinners” or “bold witnesses.”
Nowhere in his discussion does it dawn on him that maybe, just maybe, the invitation to a couple’s wedding, a day they hold incredibly dear, might be… and is, a privilege.
I have officiated for three couples, facilitating their process into deeply felt and precious life commitments. In each case, we told their story of their lives coming together, their commitment, their evolvement into life changing love. In each case they wrote their own vows, showing their mate and all in attendance feelings, thoughts and desires they had revealed to no one before that moment.
These events were life changing, not just for the couples involved, but for the community that surrounded them. I wanted to respond to Mr. Orme’s discussion therefore, with one of my own.
Dear Mr. Orme,
Recently, you wrote a question to your Christian community asking individuals whether or not they would attend a friend’s “gay wedding.” In answering your own question, you state that you would attend. You say “I believe I could attend a gay friend’s wedding without explicitly endorsing the union… It is not to endorse a lifestyle but to love a person in hopes of seeing him or her become a disciple of Jesus. Would this tarnish my reputation? It might, but it’s a decision, I believe, I could make in clear conscience with the Spirit.”
No, Mr. Orme, you would not be tarnished. Upon receiving such an invitation, you should be honored. The couple that invited you did not do so for you to teach anything. They invited you so you could learn about, appreciate and revere the deep and abiding commitment that they feel for each other. They’re inviting you to come experience how they promise to be by each other’s side for life, to help each other grow more deeply than they ever thought possible. They are inviting you to come witness that they would die on the other’s behalf.
With what they are giving to you, if you can only think about yourself, I , if I were in control, would have you just stay home.
You see, the real question that should be asked is: “Should They Invite a Homophobic Judgmental Christian to Their Same Sex Wedding?”
If it were up to me, I would say “no” for all the couples I have married. These couples were stellar, beautiful, vulnerable, strong and inspiring. I would not want your arrogance to blot their light and love in any way.
But. here’s the thing. They, to a couple, would have invited you, even with your superior attitude, and would welcome you with open arms. In their hearts, they would hope that by witnessing their love, your own heart would open up. They would even be willing for that not to happen, just on the off chance that it might.
You see, in that moment of love and joy, they would be better vessels of Christ love than I am.
They are certainly better representatives of love than you are.
One of my fellow gay dads shared this with me. Brian Copeland reported, “I invited a woman who was anti-marriage equality to our 2008 wedding. She came because she loves me. When she returned to her work the following Monday, she told her co-workers about the wedding. She was subjected to the most horrible judgment. They condemned her, and treated her like crap. That completely opened her eyes to how she and others had made me feel throughout the years. From that day she was a changed person, asserting to everyone who would listen ‘You weren’t there to see the love like I was. All I know is that God and love were both in that wedding, and that cannot be wrong.’ She took more away from our wedding than anyone.”
So, if you get that invitation, be grateful that they did not ask MY question, or answer it with MY answer. Most certainly, YOUR question should not even cross your mind. Just check “yes” and notify your “plus one.”
Then go and listen. Go and let the feeling wash over your heart. At some point in that ceremony, God will reach you and have you understand what loving your brother really is all about, that it is not for the couple being married at all. It is for you.
In that moment you will not be humbled or bold.
You will be blessed.
Rob Watson lives in Santa Cruz, California with his family and is a writer for The Next Family and Evol Equals.
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Advertising, promotion and sponsorship content guidelines
Advertising, promotion and sponsorship content guidelines
We want to help our clients and advertisers as much as possible, but we do ask that all advertising, promotion and sponsorship across our brands is appropriate. We have these rules to allow us to reach the biggest and broadest possible audience in a responsible way and to ensure our valued audience is not unfairly exploited.
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Gareth Johnson
www.gaystarnews.com/article/advertising-promotion-and-sponsorship-content-guidelines/
HRC Children, Youth and Families Program Director: “The Kids Are Alright. Really.”
Great White Shark Rescue on Cape Cod: The Videos
Great White Shark Rescue on Cape Cod: The Videos
We’ve written here before about the proliferation of great white sharks off the coast of Cape Cod, particularly in the area around Chatham, Massachusetts, where the grey seal population has exploded in recent years. The people of Chatham are very aware of the conservation efforts underway by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy to track, count, and help the species, so yesterday, when a juvenile white shark beached itself in an inlet while it was hunting seagulls, beach-goers pitched in to save it.
And the shark rescue worked.
You’ve probably seen at least a news clip of the action if you’ve been anywhere near Facebook in the last 18 hours, but below are two full clips of the action, which will restore your faith in humanity (at least for a little while).
RELATED: Massive Great White Shark Captured on GoPro as it Feeds on Dead Whale: VIDEO
Here is the initial footage of the shark on the beach as rescuers douse it with water, and the AWSC hooks it to the boat to be dragged back in to the water:
Chatham harbormaster Stuart Smith was initially called to help around 1:30 p.m. When he arrived, he saw 30 to 40 bystanders, with several people pouring buckets of water on the shark’s body to keep him breathing. The people looked like “a bucket brigade putting out a fire,” Smith said.
“Twenty, 25 years ago, they wouldn’t be exactly helping the shark. They’d be harming the shark. But now every single person on that beach was trying to assist it,” he said. “The people on the beach made the difference.”
RELATED: Great White Shark Photobombed by Another Great White Shark: VIDEO
Here is further video from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy which shows what happened after the researchers led the shark away in the boat to tag and release it:
The post Great White Shark Rescue on Cape Cod: The Videos appeared first on Towleroad.
Andy Towle
5 Things Same-Sex Couples Need To Know About Social Security
5 Things Same-Sex Couples Need To Know About Social Security
Until the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling requiring states to recognize same-sex marriages, Social Security was a crapshoot for gay couples. The Social Security Act says that in order for a surviving or former spouse to receive benefits from a worker’s record, the state that couple lived in needed to recognized their marriage. So if a same-sex married couple were legally married in one state but lived in a state that didn’t recognize their marriage, no spousal benefits could be claimed.
But the recent court ruling changed all that. States are now required to allow same-sex marriage and to recognize those marriages when they occur in other states. And that recognition opens the door to Social Security’s spousal and survivor benefits — considered to be among the most valuable features of the program.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that now same-sex couples can be as confused as heterosexual couples are when it comes to tapping into the SSA. Here are five things everyone should know:
1. For all things Social Security, it pays to be married — literally.
At your full retirement age, your benefit as a spouse can be equal to one-half of your mate’s full retirement amount. Claiming Social Security benefits as a married couple (instead of as two single individuals) can increase additional lifetime benefits significantly — in some cases, to the tune of $100,000 or more.
2. When your spouse dies, you will be provided for.
There are a ton of rules around claiming survivor benefits, but in a nutshell, if you are married and your spouse dies, you can claim Social Security benefits based on their working record instead of your own. So, if your spouse earned way more than you did, you would be eligible to receive their higher earned benefit for the rest of your life — which, again, wouldn’t be possible if you claimed Social Security as two single individuals. If you and your spouse earn about the same, the impact of this benefit will be minimal. But prior to the Supreme Court ruling, not having your marriage recognized meant no money paid to a survivor.
3. To have loved and lost beats never having loved at all.
Put more directly: Divorce beats never marrying. That’s because if you are divorced, you can still collect Social Security benefits from the work record of your ex. Doing this won’t impact how much his/her present spouse collects. This only works if you are single though. Once you remarry, this money faucet turns off. To get benefits as an ex-spouse, your marriage must have lasted at least 10 years.
4. Opposite-sex couples may still get more Social Security money than same-sex couples.
Financial Engines recently estimated that the value of spousal and survivor benefits is even larger for heterosexual couples because there are greater age differences among spouses in opposite-sex marriages. These age differences increase the potential values of marriage benefits, especially survivor benefits. Women outlive men and spend more than 11 years on average as widows, according to the Society of Actuaries, so survivor benefits are enormously important to them.
5. Social Security is like a tree trunk with many branches.
Let’s start with a principal earner who is eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. A little-known feature of the Social Security system is that in addition to paying retirement benefits for the retired worker, it may provide benefits to the worker’s spouse, an ex-spouse if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, and dependent children and grandchildren, depending on the circumstances. Moreover, these benefits can be paid all at the same time.
Anyone have any other pieces of wisdom to share when it comes to Social Security? Please tell us about it in comments.
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78 Malibu Colony, Malibu, California
78 Malibu Colony, Malibu, California
Looking over the sandy beach, this iconic five bedroom house, declared a California State Cultural Landmark, sits in the famed Malibu Colony, California.
Built in 1968 as architect John Lautner’s first Malibu project, the Stevens Residence’s striking glass, timber and concrete exterior was designed to resemble waves.
The property’s iconic shape had been described as an ‘avant-garde boat’.
In 2007, film producer Michael LaFetra bought the property and restored it to its former 1960s glory, while some upgrades build a bridge to the present.
As a result, the original cedar planking throughout the property has been carefully replaced and intended, but never implemented lofts have been realized.
The property doesn’t just boast a fantastic position, sitting on the sandy beach, but also a large deck, grassy yard and the large pool; cork flooring and solar energy enhance the house’s sustainability.
Reportedly, John Lautner was the only architect able to fit a residence with a pool onto the limited building ground.
Its unique shape, big windows and interior layout don’t just mean a number of rooms enjoy breathtaking views over the Pacific Ocean, but the property is also flooded by natural light.
High ceilings and rounded shapes make the residence feel open and spacious, while built-in furniture ensures all available space is used as effectively as possible.
The interior, including built-in furniture, has been restored to its near-original state.
Sold through Knight Frank, the Stevens Residence clocks in at $19.75 million (€17,944,366, £12,632,484).
The post 78 Malibu Colony, Malibu, California appeared first on Gay Star News.
Stefanie Gerdes
www.gaystarnews.com/article/78-malibu-colony-malibu-california/
PHOTOS: Frisky Go-Go Boys Engage In Foreplay In San Francisco
PHOTOS: Frisky Go-Go Boys Engage In Foreplay In San Francisco
Club kid Ricky Rebel performed live with world-renowned DJ Hector Fonseca and Audio4Play Records at Beatbox in San Francisco earlier this month. Meanwhile, scantily-clad go-go boys shook their tail feathers as the crowd cheered them on enthusiastically. There’s a reason Beatbox was voted one of San Francisco’s best nightclubs.
Scroll down to see the go-go boys in action, and check out the full gallery over at GayCities…
Photo credit: Marques Daniels
Graham Gremore
Membr of Pussy Riot – grand marshall of Toronto Pride Parade
