Who Else Wants To Play Brokeback Mountain With This Adorable Lumbersexual Who Lives In A Treehouse?

Move over Dallas news reporter John Fenoglio, there’s scruffy new hunk vying for our attention.

Meet Foster Huntington. The 27-year-old lumbersexual recently quit his high-paying job in New York’s fashion industry to live… in a treehouse.

“I could’ve bought a house,” Huntington told the New York Times. “But this is so much better. For me, it’s realizing a childhood dream.”

He’s now in our dreams, too. Huntington’s new digs are located among the Douglas Firs in Oregon and consist of two structures connected by a swinging rope bridge. In the backyard is an outdoor hot tub and skate bowl where he practices skateboarding. The Times describes the property as “bro-topia,” where Huntington and his friends build tubs, outdoor showers, and the like.

All we know is that the young man makes for some yummy eye candy, as evidenced by his Instagram page, which not surprisingly has almost 1 million followers.

Scroll down for pictures of Foster Huntington…

Graham Gremore

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Hundreds Of Thousands Of Gay Military Veterans Will Soon Have Access To Marital Benefits

This Independence Day weekend, hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian military veterans can take comfort in knowing they should soon be free access to some marital benefits for the first time.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday it is working to extend marital benefits to gay veterans who live in the 13 states where same-sex marriage was still banned prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.

It’s one of two major areas, along with Social Security, where the Obama administration was unable to equalize federal benefits nationwide after the high court’s 2013 decision in United States v. Windsor. That’s because of a federal statute saying VA benefits must be administered based on laws in the state where the recipient resides, not where their marriage was celebrated.

As a result, gay military veterans who were legally married in other states, but resided in states that didn’t recognize those unions, have until now been denied marital benefits including disability pay, home loan guarantees, death pensions and burial rights.

From The Washington Post:

“VA may recognize the same-sex marriage of all Veterans, where the Veteran or the Veteran’s spouse resided anywhere in the United States or its territories at the time of the marriage or at the time of application for benefits,” VA spokeswoman Victoria Dillon said in a statement describing the new policy.

The agency “will work quickly to ensure that all offices and employees are provided guidance on implementing this important decision with respect to all programs, statutes, and regulations administered by VA. ”

She said the agency is coming up with guidance on how to implement the changes; pending benefit-claims cases involving same-sex marriage will be placed on temporary hold until the guidance is in place.

In August of last year, Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit against the VA on behalf of the American Military Partner Association seeking equal benefits for gay veterans in non-marriage equality states. 

From the AMPA:

The American Military Partner Association’s President, Ashley Broadway-Mack, said: “We are thrilled the VA is acting so quickly to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling and are ready to do right by ALL our nation’s veterans. These are important benefits our nation’s veterans have earned and it was unconscionable that some were denied based solely on where they lived.”

The Social Security Administration is also expected to update its policies in the wake of the ruling, according to Investment News:

In addition to recognizing same-sex marriages nationwide, SSA said it now “can also recognize some non-marital legal same-sex relationships (such as civil unions and domestic partnerships) as marriages for purposes of determining entitlement to Social Security and Medicare benefits.”

Following last week’s ruling, SSA said it is working with the Department of Justice to analyze the decision and to provide instructions to individuals affected by the ruling.

“If you are a spouse, divorced spouse or surviving spouse of a same-sex marriage or non-marital legal same-sex relationship, we encourage you to apply right away for benefits,” the agency said in a statement. “If you disagree with our decision about your entitlement to benefits, eligibility for benefits, or payment amount, you should appeal.”

The post Hundreds Of Thousands Of Gay Military Veterans Will Soon Have Access To Marital Benefits appeared first on Towleroad.

John Wright

Hundreds Of Thousands Of Gay Military Veterans Will Soon Have Access To Marital Benefits

Young Gays Reflect On Their First Prides — Glitter, Nerves, Hookups And All

First word, first step, first day at school, first kiss — there’s really only one natural life progression to hit next — first Pride!

Do you remember your first Pride? No? Then you probably did something right.

But it’s not always rainbow glitter and unicorn smiles. Pride can be overwhelming, messy and eye-opening.

Below, guys Whisper their first Pride experiences — all the glory and the defeat.

Dan Tracer

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Asia would see us as ‘decadent’ if we allow same-sex marriage: Australia minister

In stating his opposition to Australia legalizing same-sex marriage, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce warned that Asia could see Australia as ‘decadent’ and may potentially damage negotiations and our trading relationship in the region.

‘I think that what we have to understand is that when we go there [Asia], there are judgments, whether you like it or not, that are made about us and they see in how we negotiate with them whether they see us as – whether they see us as decadent,’ he is quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald as saying.

His comments come after fellow Liberal Party member and leader of the government in the senate Eric Abetz said last week that Australia should not legalize gay marriage because no Asian country has done so.

While marriage equality advocates say Australia is now lagging behind countries such as the US, Britain, New Zealand, and Ireland, Abetz questioned whether Australia should instead be following Asia on the issue.

‘The Labor Party and other journalists tell us time and time again that we are living in the Asian century, tell me how many Asian countries have redefined marriage?’ The Herald quoted Abetz as saying in an ABC radio interview.

‘Are we in the Asian century or not? It’s amazing how certain people try to pick and choose in relation to debates. All of the sudden the United States, which is usually condemned, is now being celebrated on this bizarre decision of a 5-4 decision in the Supreme Court.’

He added that legalizing same-sex marriage could open a ‘Pandora’s box’ of legalizing other unions, including polyamory, he said in a Sky News interview.

While no country in Asia has legalized same-sex marriage, many countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Singapore recognize polygynous marriages under Sharia Law which applies only to Muslims.

Under Sharia law, a Muslim man can marry up to four wives.

Until February this year, Muslim men in India were able to have multiple wives until a Supreme Court ruled otherwise.

Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said Australia should instead be a leader of marriage law reform in Asia.

‘Most countries that have similar legal and political systems to Australia have all embraced marriage equality. It is important that Australia provides leadership and hope to our Asian neighbors on this important reform, especially with the growing campaign for marriage equality across Asia.’

A multi-party same-sex marriage bill is expected to be introduced when Parliament resumes in August.

The post Asia would see us as ‘decadent’ if we allow same-sex marriage: Australia minister appeared first on Gay Star News.

Sylvia Tan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/asia-would-see-us-as-decadent-if-we-allow-same-sex-marriage-australia-minister/

‘It’s for the glory of God,’ says Tennessee county clerk who quits over same-sex marriage licenses

Three employees in Decatur County Clerk Office in west Tennessee resigned last week due to their opposition to the recent US Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

County clerk Gwen Pope and employees Sharon Bell and Mickey Butler decided to quit than to have to issue same-sex marriage licenses, the Jackson Sun reports.

County Mayor Mike Creasy said the county has not received any requests for same-sex marriage licenses as of Thursday.

The resignations will not be effective until July 14.

Although clerks are legally allowed to refuse to perform the marriages, they must issue the licenses.

The newspaper also reported that local residents and those from nearby counties have telephoned or turned up at the office to thank and praise the three women for their ‘strength of their convictions,’ as one put it.

Pope, has worked on and off in the office since 1994 and has been the clerk since 2008, said the decision to step down wasn’t made to make news.

‘It’s kind of sort of like you don’t want to draw attention to yourself for any reason,’ she was quoted as saying in the Sun.

‘That’s not why we’re doing this. Not doing it in any way to draw attention to us. It’s for the glory of God. He’s going to get all the glory.’

The post ‘It’s for the glory of God,’ says Tennessee county clerk who quits over same-sex marriage licenses appeared first on Gay Star News.

Sylvia Tan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/its-for-the-glory-of-god-says-tennessee-county-clerk-who-quits-over-same-sex-marriage-licenses/