Lemonade Takeaway: Beyonce’s Four Best Tracks (And One Glaring Problem)

Beyonce’s visual album Lemonade dropped over the weekend, and proceeded to pretty much slay all of our lives.

The concept album addresses years of rumors of marital strife with Jay-Z head on, mixing deeply personal and experimental lyrics with flashes of the uniquely badass King B we all know and love.

As with all things Beyonce, Lemonade is ripe for interpretation, analysis, and discussion…so here’s ours:

1. “Formation”

The first drop of Lemonade is still the tastiest.

You cannot separate “Formation” from the video, the moment that it dropped, and the spectacle that was her super bowl performance. You know, the performance where she completely overshadowed other superstars on the stage (Coldwhat? Bruno who?) to make the most overtly political statement of a not-very-political career.

Her hair was wild and messy, her backup dancers dressed in costumes inspired by the black panther movement, and her dancers formed an X (as in Malcolm) on the field. There’s something very subversive about the fact that a woman whose fair complexion lends her a flexibility with depictions of her blackness (via the endless array of blonde wigs, the black and white visual motif of the I Am era, etc.) would release the most one of the most unapologetic celebrations of it ever made.

“Formation” is meandering and relatively hookless, but sonically and politically, it goes harder than any other track on the album. Stay woke, Beyonce.

2. “Love Drought”

“Love Drought” is one of two moody and sparse songs on Lemonade, and is far more successful than the other, “Six Inch.” ‘Yonce and her man are not having sex, and it’s up to them to stop the drought and, um… get things wet again.

It’s thematically similar to the last half of Frank Ocean’s 10-minute Channel Orange opus “Pyramids,” and his influence is all over the cut. “Love Drought” isn’t the flashiest song on the album, nor is it likely to be the one that garners the most attention, but it’s the one we can’t get out of our heads.  

3. “Don’t Hurt Yourself”

Kelis was the first girl to scream on a track, but when Beyonce does it, the world pays attention. King Bey has been experimenting with a hard rock edge since “Ring The Alarm.” If you’ve heard the “If I Were a Boy/You Oughta Know“ mashup from the I Am World Tour album or “I Care“ from 4, you know she’s been itching to unleash a rocker-chick side on some of her more aggressive kiss-offs.

With “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” Jack White helps her finally hit the bullseye after years of near-misses. The full-throated, hard rock f*ck you to a cheating lover is the song we can’t wait to see her perform live, and the video is Bey at her swagged-out peak of bad-bitchness.

4. “Hold Up”

The sun-kissed, reggae tinged “Hold Up” is deceptively simple enough to make it a strong candidate for song of the summer. “Hold Up” is an anthem to anyone who has ever had a partner stray, gotten fed up with putting long hours in the gym for nothing, and who has ever had to get their man together and let him know exactly what time it is. Not that we have, or anything.  

So, What’s The Problem?

For all of the brilliance of the visual album and its instantly iconic moments, for all of the reasons why it’s her strongest body of work yet, there’s still a sense that it’s time for Beyonce to breakthrough her pattern of releasing album after album about relationships.

What makes “Formation” so striking is that it is such a rarity: a Beyonce song that isn’t about relationships or cheating or boyfriends and girlfriends or husbands and wives: it’s about self love and identifying what she loves about herself, from her “negro nose” to her “Jackson 5 nostrils” and everything in between.

After six (solo) albums and 20 years in the game, Beyonce has yet to produce her cohesive artistic statement that pushes her past her comfort zone of singing about love and relationships. Lemonade is not her Rhythm Nation and it certainly isn’t her Purple Rain.

When given the opportunity to make a bold statement about the world we all live in, she chooses instead to bring us deeper into hers. She doesn’t use the music to get us talking about the world, she uses it to keep us talking about Beyonce. 

Lemonade is a fitting coda to that discussion. However, if Beyonce’s listening, we’re ready for a different conversation.

Rob Smith is a multimedia journalist and author of Closets, Combat and Coming Out: Coming of Age as a Gay Man in the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Army.  Follow him on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook @robsmithonline.

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SHOCK: Antigay Preacher Was Having Some Very Gay Sex

Internet evangelist Michael Vorhis has often put his antigay positions front and center, casting wide nets of warning that the “militant gays” seek to destroy all that is good and holy in the world.

And never doth the proverbial lady protest too much as Vorhis, who founded the ChurchMilitant website and now reveals he is was gay himself.

“I’ve never made a secret that my life prior to my reversion was extremely sinful,” he says in a recently uploaded YouTube video.

“I did not reveal the specific nature or details of the sins because when I returned home to the church, I did not think that a full public confession of details was necessary in order to start proclaiming the great mercy of God. Perhaps that was a wrong assessment. I don’t seriously know.”

Related: Grindr Screenshots Reveal Antigay Pastor Is A Top Who Likes To Cuddle

“Whatever the matter, I will now reveal that for most of my years in my 30s, confused about my own sexuality, I lived a life of live-in relationships with homosexual men…On the inside, I was deeply conflicted about all of it.”

“I gave into deep pains from my youth by seeking solace in lust, and in the process, surrendered my masculinity.”

Then Vorhis drags his poor mother into the whole mess, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He says she prayed so hard for him to abolish his sexual sins, that “as a last resort, she prayed to be given whatever suffering needed so that I would be granted sufficient grace to revert. It was shortly after that prayer that her very early stage stomach cancer was detected, which she died from a few years later.”

We’ve heard a lot of bogus claims about homosexuality over the years, but this is a new one. Apparently gayness causes cancer — in your loved ones.

Related: Antigay Republican Lawmaker Caught Cruising Grindr For A Winter Cuddle Bud

“When my mom died, I pledged at her coffin that I would change. I said, ‘Mom, what you went through for me, you will not have gone through in vain.’”

“I was thrilled — over the top! — with gratitude for what God had done for me through my mom and her suffering.”

Fans of gymnastics will surely be captivated by the extent of mental flips and backbends required for Vorhis to feel “over the top” that his mother died of stomach cancer so that he could stop chasing the D.

And since he seems to be doing enough praying for himself to last an eternity, we’ll instead take a moment to send positive thoughts to any young, questioning soul forced to endure Vorhis’ disgraceful nonsense.

Watch below if you can stomach it:

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Lesbian Customer Refused Service By Homophobic Cashier At Family Dollar Store

Melissa Langford, 34, got more than low prices when she went shopping at a New Orleans Family Dollar store. Instead, she got an earful of homophobic comments and was denied service by the foul mouthed cashier.

“My mind was blown. I couldn’t believe the things I was hearing this woman say,” Langford told the Times-Picayune. “It’s one thing if it was a customer in line being ignorant with her friends, but this is the cashier.”

Langford says she was the fifth customer in line at the cash register when she overheard the cashier say she hates gay people, that they are “sick,” and “they got somethin wrong in they head.” After Langford objected, noting that she’s a lesbian, the cashier became combative and refused to ring up her purchases.

After a male customer objected to the cashier’s actions, she refused to serve him as well. The other customer, however, wasn’t about to back down as he confronted the cashier, calling her a “nincompoop” and “asshole.”

Langford captured video of the cashier’s behavior, although she says the clerk toned it down dramatically after she realized Langford was recording her rant.

Langford posted the video on Facebook (watch them below), saying “Im really upset. This is the worst antigay shit ive [sic] ever had to deal with in my 34 years.”

She says she contacted the company’s corporate office but no one replied to her complaint. The Times-Picayune also tried to get a statement from the company but was met with silence. The local store manager refused to comment as well.

Langford says the manager refused to get involved during the altercation as well. “She said, ‘I can’t control nothing. She can say and do what she wants,’” she said.

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/aEZ73sSqX1U/lesbian-customer-refused-service-by-homophobic-cashier-at-family-dollar-store-20160425

Tom Daley Will Make You Sweat All Over with This Full Body Workout – VIDEO

Tom Daley is back with another all over body workout to help you reach your fitness goals.

The out Olympian, who is prepping for Rio 2016, has previously shared how to get his abs of steel, and shared two other full body fitness regimes. His third workout posted online ups the intensity a bit and is sure to make you sweat.

Watch it, below.

ICYMI: Tom Daley Has The Moves To Work Your Body – WATCH

And check out his second full body workout, here.

The post Tom Daley Will Make You Sweat All Over with This Full Body Workout – VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

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Colorado Supreme Court Lets Ruling Against Anti-Gay Baker Stand

Jack Phillips, in his quest to sell wedding cakes without serving same-sex couples, has been defeated for a third time.

The post Colorado Supreme Court Lets Ruling Against Anti-Gay Baker Stand appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/04/25/3772462/colorado-supreme-court-same-sex-cake-case/

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: April 25, 2016

ALL EYES ON NC AS STATE LEGISLATURE RECONVENES, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DEMAND REPEAL OF HB 2: Today, as the North Carolina State Legislature reconvenes, nearly 190,000 signatures demanding the repeal of North Carolina’s anti-LGBT House Bill 2 were delivered to the office of Gov. Pat McCrory by a collection of civil rights, faith, business, and advocacy groups as the state legislature returns for the first time since it introduced and passed the law eliminating legal protections for LGBT people, as well as communities of color and religious minorities among others,  in a one-day special session on March 23. Thousands of people are expected to rally for the discriminatory law’s repeal outside the legislature throughout the day. HB 2 forces transgender North Carolinians to use restroom facilities in schools and on publicly-owned property inconsistent with their gender identity, and also attacks minorities by blocking individuals from suing under state employment non-discrimination law on the basis of race, religion, national origin, and sex. Moreover, HB 2 bars municipalities from enacting their own non-discrimination protections.  As The Charlotte Observer points out, it’s Gov. Pat McCrory who has the most at stake.

NATIONAL REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM MCCRORY AND OPPOSE HB 2: The list of Republicans speaking out against HB 2 has continued to grow. Former Presidential candidate NJ Governor Chris Christie said Friday: “It strikes me as not something I’d sign here in New Jersey. But I don’t know all the specifics of it. So I don’t want to assail another piece of legislation I haven’t even read. But the sense of what I’ve read from what you all have written about it is that it’s not something I would support here.” Last week frontrunner Donald Trump echoed that sentiment, as has SC Gov. Nikki Haley, candidate John Kasich and many others. Ted Cruz on the other hand has completely doubled down on his assault of the trans community highlighting a huge ideological rift in the Republican Party. Hugh Hewitt said it best on Meet The Press last weekend, “This is not the terrain the Republican Party wants to fight this election on,” and the majority of Republican leaders seem to agree. More from NJ.com.

FLOTUS SPEAKS OUT AGAINST MISS. HB 1523: In a commencement speech given by First Lady Michelle Obama at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., she stood strongly against MS HB 1523, a so-called “religious freedom” law that allows almost any individual or organization to use religion as a justification to discriminate against LGBT Mississippians. Her comments came just after President Obama spoke out against both MS HB 1523 and NC HB 2 during a London press conference, urging for the laws’ repeal. More from The Washington Blade.

VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARD TO APPEAL FOURTH CIRCUIT RULING: Gloucester County, Virginia School Board is not backing down. Following the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in favor of transgender teen Gavin Grimm, who sued the school district over their discriminatory policy which barred him from using the boys’ restroom, the School Board is doubling down on their efforts to marginalize Grimm and other transgender students. In a statement last week, the Board announced that they were appealing the decision saying, “ After considering the opinions of the 4th Circuit panel, it is the school board’s unanimous decision to file a petition for an en banc hearing with the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.” The Fourth Circuit decision issued last week nullifies the provision in North Carolina’s HB 2 that bars transgender students from accessing the restroom consistent with their gender identity. More from NBC News.

TED CRUZ RELEASES HORRIFIC TRANSPHOBIC NEW AD: Last week, presidential candidate Ted Cruz sank to a new low by releasing a despicable campaign ad attacking transgender people. The smear campaign peddles a dangerous brand of hate and ignorance, comes as transgender women continue to face an epidemic of hate-motivated violence, and sends a dangerous message to transgender young people. Four in ten have reported being bullied by their peers according to an HRC survey. Ted Cruz has made anti-transgender rhetoric an integral part of his bid for the White House. Just last week, his campaign threw a transgender teenager out of a campaign event. During a prior campaign stop in Iowa, he turned a simple question on education into a bigoted rant against the Obama Administration’s decision to support a transgender student, falsely accusing officials of forcing the school to “let a little boy take showers with junior high girls.”Ted Cruz’s ad highlights his support for North Carolina’s HB 2, an anti-LGBT law that forces transgender North Carolinians to use restroom facilities in schools and on publicly-owned property inconsistent with their gender identity. More from The Advocate.

TELEVISION AD SLAMS MCCRORY BY LETTING THE LAW SPEAK FOR ITSELF: North Carolina’s Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper certainly doesn’t have to do much digging to find dirt on Governor McCrory — the continuous news cycle in the state speaks for itself. A pro-Cooper advertisement, released to criticize both McCrory and his passage of anti-transgender HB 2, features news program after news program blasting the politician for signing the bill into law. The Democratic Governors Association is backing the commercial, which ends on a simple but effective statement: McCrory is “taking North Carolina backwards.” True — the last time we checked it was 2016, but it sure has been feeling like the 50’s lately.

MOST OFFENSIVE THINGS NC SENATE PRES. HAS SAID ABOUT TRANS PEOPLE: Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, the North Carolina State Senate’s top ranking official, has repeatedly taken to social media to attack transgender people and spread hateful lies about his shameful and discriminatory HB 2 law. HRC breaks down some of his worst offenders, including a claim that the recent Fourth Circuit ruling that agreed that civil rights protections should be extended to transgender students, is the same as the federal government “forcing” students to integrate gender-segregated facilities. Read the full list on HRC’s blog.

NASCAR STANDS AGAINST HB 2: Last week, NASCAR spoke out against North Carolina’s discriminatory anti-LGBT law, HB 2, stating that the racing company is working to change it. “We take the position that any discrimination, unintended or not, we do not like that,” Chairman Brian France said. NASCAR’s statement follows an overwhelming number of CEOs who have urged North Carolina lawmakers to repeal HB 2. More than 180 leading CEOs and business leaders have signed onto an open letter urging Governor Pat McCrory and the North Carolina General Assembly to repeal the radical provisions in the deeply discriminatory law that was rammed through the legislature on March 23. More from HRC’s blog.

BLUE MAN GROUP BECOMES LATEST TO CANCEL NC SHOW OVER HB 2: Performers continue to cancel shows in North Carolina following the passage of HB 2 last month. The Blue Man Group which was scheduled to perform shows in June released a statement Friday saying that they value “every individual’s right to live a dignified, vibrant life in full color. As such, we are joining the growing list of entertainment professionals in protest of North Carolina’s HB 2 law.” That list now includes artists like Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Pearl Jam and Boston. A group that did move forward with their show however was Mumford and Sons. The band donated the proceeds from the show to LGBT charities in the state.

MORE THAN 150 PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSIONALS CALL FOR THE REPEAL OF HB 2: As the North Carolina General Assembly returns today for its legislative session, it will have to consider yet another group of professionals coming out against HB 2. A coalition of more than 150 psychology professionals have signed onto a letter condemning and asking for the repeal of the anti-transgender law. The group of social workers, counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists stated that LGBT people face higher rates of depression, and that transgender people in particular experience this with the greatest frequency. HB 2 will only exacerbate this heightened risk.

STATE SNAPSHOT

OHIO LAWMAKER WANTS TO BAN ALL UNISEX BATHROOMS IN THE STATE: An Ohio lawmaker is considering introducing legislation that would ban gender-neutral bathrooms from use in the state. Republican Representative John Becker is spouting off the same rhetoric used in defense of North Carolina’s anti-transgender HB 2. Like the Tar Heel State’s law, this bill would likely restrict transgender individuals from using public facilities that align with their gender identity. Given the sweeping backlash seen in North Carolina since its own anti-transgender bill passed, chances are, Becker isn’t thinking this one through. More from the Idea Stream.

STUDENTS BLOCKED FROM LGBT RESOURCES: Students in the Sioux Falls School District are saying their school’s internet filter is denying them access from LGBT resources. You may remember earlier this year, South Dakota passed a bill that attacked the rights of transgender public school students by attempting to force them to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity. That bill, however, was vetoed by SD Gov. Dennis Daugaard. When LGBT students are already at such high risk for bullying and other forms of violence in schools, the last thing they need is to be blocked from the online resources that will help them. More from The Argus Leader.

AROUND THE WORLD

SCHOOL ROCKS: Advocates for LGBT equality in the United Kingdom have given 60 new schools the designation of LGBT-friendly. The Educate & Celebrate organization has marked these 60 schools as demonstrating best practices in LGBT equality and inclusion in these schools. 80 schools in the United Kingdom now have this honor. More from Gay Star News.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY RANDY: The U.S. State Department’s Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, Randy Berry, celebrated one year in office on April 13th. Berry has been busy traveling the world and promoting LGBTI rights and inclusion across the globe. HRC is excited to see what year two brings, More from HRC’s blog.

READING RAINBOW

The Guardian covers a unique protest for marriage equality in Australia… The Washington Post shows how the Indian transgender community celebrates Hinduism’s largest festival… Mother Jones uncovers the conservative group that seemingly built the language for the onslaught of anti-transgender bills… ABC News shares the story of a transgender student who was barred from walking at her high school graduation due to her gender identity… MSNBC highlights a conservative group boycotting Target over their gender-neutral bathroom policy… Tampa Bay Times’ Editorial Board calls on the Department of Children and Families to reverse a policy that would allow children in group homes to be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity… The Huffington Post discusses the allegedly unlawful arrest of a Malaysian transgender activist, detained after holding a charity event… Reuters lists an unsurprising group of Republicans that have criticized President Obama for his remarks on anti-transgender laws… The New York Times applauds openly gay jazz musician Gary Burton for canceling his Mississippi show over the state’s anti-transgender law… and WKYC predicts Cleveland, Ohio will see its own form of a transgender restroom law soon.

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality, and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-april-25-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

N.C. Methodist Church Marries Same-Sex Couple in Defiance of Church Doctrine

The wedding comes just weeks before Methodist leaders from around the world meet to discuss church regulations. 

www.advocate.com/religion/2016/4/25/nc-methodist-church-marries-same-sex-couple-defiance-church-doctrine

14 hot gay Instagram travelers giving us serious wanderlust this month

It’s official: the travel Instagram user’s selfie is the new postcard. Kind of.

Each month, we’re delving into the photo-sharing website for intimate glimpses into the lives and loves of gay travelers.

Tag us in your photos with #gaystartravel and you might be featured next week. And to follow Gay Star Travel on Instagram, click here!

1 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

The rainbow over the falls appeared as the sun started to set. Perfect end to a great day in Zimbabwe. Really glad I hopped the border for the day. And also became a billionaire in the blink of an eye #zimbabwe #Africa #vicfalls #victoriafalls #engineerinafrica #billionaire #makeitrain #gaystartravel #ifiwerearichman

A photo posted by Joshua (@engineerontheroad) on Apr 10, 2016 at 10:30am PDT

2 Krabi, Thailand

Couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day #krabi #railay #paradise #thailand #gay #instagay #gaytravel #travel #backpacker #asia #gaythailand #wanderlust #humid #world #gayboy #gaystagram #nomad #travelbug #abs #islands #islandlife #beach #water #stunning #beachbum #kayak #active

A photo posted by Akash Kar (@travelkar) on Apr 24, 2016 at 10:44pm PDT

3 Niagara Falls, New York State

It me at the falls. #instanature #instamood #instagram #instagood #instacool #instapic #instagram #instafollow #vsco #vscocam #vscogood #vscogrid #vscodaily #vscophile #photooftheday #gay #gayguy #gayboy #gayhot #gaypride #travel #traveller #traveling #travelgram #gaytravel

A photo posted by vygneshr (@vygneshr) on Apr 24, 2016 at 5:51pm PDT

4 Santa Monica, California

En #santamonica #california #selfie

A photo posted by Koto (@iamkoto) on Apr 24, 2016 at 8:44pm PDT

5 Skógafoss Waterfall, Iceland

It was raining Skógafoss Waterfall, Iceland.

A photo posted by Leo – “in every picture” (@leo.h2) on Apr 16, 2016 at 1:58am PDT

6 Middletown, California

#life returns to #Middletown #California after last Fall’s devastating #valleyfire

A photo posted by Mark Vogler (@markvogler) on Apr 23, 2016 at 12:58pm PDT

7 Santorini, Greece

Life is not complete without a visit to #greece #mediterranean #greekislands #greecestagram #travel #travelgram #travelblogger #travelphotography #passionpassport #bestvacations #beautifuldestinations #TheWorldGuru #gay #gayboy #gaytravel #gaystagram #instagay #instatravel #landscape #architecture #archilovers #architectureporn #gayguy #wanderlust #holiday #tourist

A photo posted by The Eye Must TravelSYD ✈️ (@benjaminoaus) on Apr 25, 2016 at 2:50am PDT

8 Mallorca, Spain

Views over Pollença and out to Cap de Formentor. This is one of my favorite regions of the island with a perfect mix of spectacular landscape and quaint towns. Best way to get around: rent a car! Don’t rely on the public transportation here to get you to the best and unknown spots. There are easy pick up options from the airport which is only a 15 minute drive from Palma. Do your research, plan a route and discover the best of what Mallorca has to offer! #trentravels #travel #explore #discover #gay #instagay #gaycation #gaytravel #pollença #mallorca #spain #españa #adventure #vacation

A photo posted by TrenTravels (@trentravels) on Apr 25, 2016 at 4:01am PDT

9 Rome, Italy

Walking and eating through Rome #gaytravel #gaystartravel #gayitaly

A photo posted by Matt Skallerud (@mattskal) on Oct 17, 2015 at 1:35pm PDT

10 London, England

Stefan hanging out in his home town. Can you guess which iconic London building he’s spotted?

A photo posted by Nomadic Boys (@nomadicboys) on Apr 10, 2016 at 7:21am PDT

11 Government Gardens, New Zealand

#travel in #newzealand #rotoruagovernmentgardens those amazing #roses #gardens #flowers #gay #gayman #gaylife #gaytravel #rotorua

A photo posted by zsazsa (@zsazsaill) on Apr 25, 2016 at 1:57am PDT

12 Prague, Czech Republic

Yesterday walking along the #VltavaRiver. The #charlesbridge behind me from the 14th century.

A photo posted by Gill ♎️♂ (@jlovergill) on Mar 27, 2016 at 7:37am PDT

13 New York City, New York State

Times Square #NYC #Newyork #travel #gay #gaytravel

A photo posted by Reece Nixon (@reecenixon) on Apr 25, 2016 at 8:00am PDT

14 Austin, Texas

#graffiti #atx #austin #texas #travel #traveler #nomad #wanderer #wanderlust #stayandwander #letsgosomewhere #neverstopexploring #lifeofadventure #livefolk #liveauthentic #visualsoflife #vscocam #vscoedit #vscodaily #vscogood #gayselfie #gaysian #gayboy #gaystagram #gaytravel #cuteboy #prettyboy #asianboy #filipino #pinoy

A photo posted by Vince Patrick (@vincepatrickwanders) on Apr 25, 2016 at 7:30am PDT

The post 14 hot gay Instagram travelers giving us serious wanderlust this month appeared first on Gay Star News.

www.gaystarnews.com/article/14-hot-gay-instagram-travelers-giving-us-serious-wanderlust-this-month/

90-Year-Old Grandfather Finds Love Once Again… In A Man 50 Years His Junior

Former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford made a big announcement over the weekend.

20 years after his wife of 48 years, Clare, succumbed to acute leukemia, the 90-year-old former top adviser to John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. is getting remarried… to a man… 50 years his junior.

Related: This Heartfelt Video Of Gay Seniors Giving Advice Will Make Your Monday

“Too often, our society seeks to label people by pinning them on the wall–straight, gay or in between,” Wofford writes in a powerful op-ed in the New York Times. “I don’t categorize myself based on the gender of those I love. I had a half-century of marriage with a wonderful woman, and now am lucky for a second time to have found happiness.”

Wofford met his new partner, Matthew, on a beach in Fort Lauderdale five years after Clare’s passing.

“It was afternoon,” he recalls. “I swam alone in the water, attracting the attention of two bystanders near the shore. They came over to say hello, which is how I met Matthew Charlton.”

He continues: “As we talked, I was struck by Matthew’s inquisitive and thoughtful manner and his charm. I knew he was somebody I would enjoy getting to know. We were decades apart in age with far different professional interests, yet we clicked.”

Related: Overcoming The Gay Age Gap Is No Small Feat

What started as a friendship quickly turned to love.

“We both felt the immediate spark, and as time went on, we realized that our bond had grown into love,” Wofford writes. “To some, our bond is entirely natural, to others it comes as a strange surprise, but most soon see the strength of our feelings and our devotion to each other. We have now been together for 15 years.”

And now they’re getting married.

“At age 90, I am lucky to be in an era where the Supreme Court has strengthened what President Obama calls ‘the dignity of marriage’ by recognizing that matrimony is not based on anyone’s sexual nature, choices or dreams,” Wofford says. “It is based on love.”

He and Charlton plan to exchange vows on April 30.

“We will join hands, vowing to be bound together,” Wofford concludes. “To have and to hold, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.”

Related: QUESTION: What Do You Think Of The Idea Of Intergenerational Relationships?

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/FcugpaJZJ8k/90-year-old-grandfather-finds-love-once-again-in-a-man-50-years-his-junior-20160425

North Carolina Gay Couple Married by Methodist Minister in Act of Civil Disobedience Against Church: WATCH

Jim Wilborne and John Romano were married on Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C. in an act of civil disobedience against the church that may cause the minster to be de-frocked.

Writes Reconciling Ministries Network in a press release:

The ceremony may immediately jeopardize the pastoral credentials of Rev. Rosenquist because the current anti-LGBTQ policy of The United Methodist Church (UMC) pointedly instructs clergy not to preside at same-sex weddings, and that no same-sex wedding can take place in a UMC sanctuary.

The wedding also takes place just weeks from The UMC’s General Conference — the policy-making body of The UMC that meets every four years — where the issues of LGBTQ inclusion, clergy and same-sex weddings will be reconsidered. Wilborne and Romano — who have been together for six years — chose to hold their wedding at this time and partner with Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) on the It’s Time campaign to play their part in moving the institutional church towards a more welcoming position.

“This church has been my home for almost 20 years, and has become John’s church family too. It is a blessing to be able to have the same opportunity as every other member of our congregation in celebrating our marriage here,” said Wilborne. “We were at the point where we considered leaving the church because of the hurt of discrimination. We’re grateful to First UMC and RMN for showing us that acceptance is possible within our faith.”

RMN continues:

In the last two years, the number of Reconciling United Methodists (RUMs) in the Southeastern jurisdiction, which includes North Carolina, has increased 35 percent. In fact, North Carolina is the third largest state in terms of recent growth of RUMs, which are churches and communities that welcome LGBTQ individuals and families.

“The United Methodist Church is where we learn and live out God’s love. My ministry requires — and all who are baptized in The UMC promise — to seek justice for all people. It grieves, angers and saddens me that the institution I love and through which I serve God has institutionalized injustice and oppression through its policies,” said Rev. Rosenquist. “I’m presiding over this ceremony in faithful response to my ordination. It’s time for this couple, it’s time for this church, it’s time for society: it’s time for justice and to celebrate the love shared by these two men, the church and God.”

Bishop Talbert, who received an official complaint for officiating a same sex wedding in 2013 and who remains the only Bishop to preside over a same-sex wedding in The UMC, was part of the original special commission at General Conference 1972 that stated LGBTQ individuals are people of sacred worth and deserve human and civil rights.

“I learned from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. himself during my time as an activist in the Civil Rights movement that hate won’t bring about change, but love will,” said Bishop Talbert. “I decided to participate in this wedding because this isn’t the time to give up. It’s time to keep pushing for what is right.”

“We are so proud and grateful for the leadership of Rev. Rosenquist, for the commitment of this couple and the ongoing leadership of Bishop Talbert,” said Matt Berryman, Executive Director of RMN. “This General Conference will face a growing surge of support for LGBTQ inclusion, from the pews and from its ministry. It’s Time to change and reward love, commitment and faith, and to welcome everyone, wherever they live and worship, into The UMC.”

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