3 Gay Wedding Hot-Spots

Andrew Collins
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3 Gay Wedding Hot-Spots

Great gay-friendly destinations for your special day

San Francisco, Boston and Brighton all have solid traditions of being progressive and open-minded so there is no surprise that they have long been popular gay travel destinations. Now that gays are allowed to marry in all three cities, gay lovers are rewarding their dedication to marriage equality by spending hard-earned pink dollars on a booming same-sex wedding industry.

San Francisco, California

The City by the Bay has a long tradition of welcoming people of all colors and orientations, and the world-famous Castro District has been the center for gay and lesbian culture for more than a generation.

Ten years ago, San Francisco’s mayor Gavin Newsome ordered the city clerk to issue the first same-sex marriage certificates in the United States, and even though the marriages were annulled four months later, the move cemented San Francisco’s status as the premier gay-friendly city in the country.

Related: Gay Marriage: From Forbidden Fruit to Law of the Land

Many legal battles and court rulings later, California finally legalized gay marriage in June 2013 and San Francisco can now boast a booming wedding industry that offers everything from specialized gay wedding planners to a all gay women dance band for your wedding reception.

Some fantastic hotels in San Francisco are W San Francisco, Clift Hotel, and Grand Hyatt San Francisco.

Boston, Massachusetts

Massachusetts was the first US state to legalize same-sex marriage, back in 2004, and the beautiful, old streets of Boston has carried many happy gay couples ever since. It is one of the most politically progressive and socially liberal cities in the country, with a very visible GLBT community.

Boston offers a wonderful blend of stylish sophistication and historic New England charm that can create the picture-perfect backdrop for any romantic occasion. Walking through cobbled colonial lanes, gazing at beautiful art, riding along the Charles River, dining in the North End and relaxing in a Jacuzzi. All the right stuff to get your married life off on the right foot.

The city’s gay bar and club scene is scattered around town, but the South End and Tremont Street area is the traditional gay neighborhood even though it in reason years also has become one of the city’s most pricey and exclusive.

Loews Boston Hotel and W Boston are both spectacular, luxury hotels and Boston Marriott Copley Place is perfectly located for any shopaholic.

Brighton, UK

As the UK in 2014 finally joined the rank of countries allowing gay marriages, the gay-friendly beach town of Brighton on the south-coast of England became a natural wedding destination for same-sex couples.

With its laid back atmosphere, and the unofficial status as the gay capital of the UK, Brighton has long been a favorite for civil partnership ceremonies and has a large number of venues to accommodate all your nuptial needs.

The city hosts one of the most popular Pride festivals in Europe and has a thriving gay scene with many gay bars and clubs, as well as a variety of attractions, festivals, museums, and theatre.

The Grand Brighton has a magnificent location on Brighton’s seafront and Hotel du Vin Brighton is just a 5 minutes walk from the pier.

Related: 10 Awesomely Cute Gay Weddings

My Family Treats Me Badly After I Came Out

Max Salazar
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My Family Treats Me Badly After I Came Out

My mom didn’t take it well at all and she now treats me like I’m trash

Dear Max,

My mom and my brother found out that I am gay. I really wasn’t ready to come out yet and I didn’t plan for it to happen. Now I feel like I am screwed and I don’t know what to do.

My mom didn’t take it welll at all and she now treats my like I’m trash. She does not really talk to me anymore. It’s like I’m there, but she really doesn’t care.

My brother is scared of me and usually tries to avoid me whenever he can. We used to hang out a lot and I miss that. What should I do about my mom and brother?

–Really confused

Related: I’m Scared of Telling Them I’m Gay

Dear Really confused,
It is sad that some people still don’t understand or accept homosexuality. Your mom and brother need time to digest the fact that you are still that person that they have always loved.

You just happen to like men and it’s nothing wrong with that. Love is love, and everybody should be allowed to love who ever they want.

So be patient with them and just let them be until they are ready to accept you the way you are.

In the meantime you should reach out to other people so you’re not all alone with your thoughts. Make a phone call to a helpline, or chat with other teens at our gay chat. Sharing your burden always help.

The Trevor Project has trained counselors there to support you 24/7. If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the Trevor Lifeline now at 866-488-7386.

You can also find a lot of great advice and encouragement in the coming out section at the Human Rights Campaign web site.

Good luck!

Kelly Clarkson Helps Guy Propose To His Boyfriend

Zayn Williams
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Kelly Clarkson Helps Guy Propose To His Boyfriend

Kelly Clarkson helps gay couple get their perfect engagement

Alex loves Justin, AND wanted the perfect occation to propose to his boyfriend. So when the couple went to the Venetian in Vegas to see Kelly Clarkson perform live, Alex saw the perfect opportunity and grabbed it.

At a meet and greet after the show, Alex Malerba dropped to his knees and popped the question to his partner Justin Blake.

Related: NKOTB’s Jonathan Knight Engaged to Boyfriend

“Asking the love of my life to marry me in front of the one and only @kellyclarkson was an amazing moment!!!! HE SAID YES!”

And Clarkson was excited too.

“Oh my God,… so happy! Oh my God!,” Clarkson said.
“That was so beautiful, congratulations! He was like, ‘I wanna propose to him.’ I was like, ‘Come back here!'”

Alex and Justin have been dating for four years, and the former American Idol star is obviously all for gay marriage. “It’s about damn time, ” the singer said. “– shit or get off the post!”

Related: The 10-Point Gay Wedding Checklist

HE SAID YES!!!! THANK YOU @kelly_clarkson !!!!! pic.twitter.com/BnIUEw0yHz

— Alex Malerba (@Alex_Malerba) June 21, 2017

NFL Star Ryan O’Callaghan Comes out as Gay

Zayn Williams
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NFL Star Ryan O’Callaghan Comes out as Gay

Former New England Patriots star Ryan O’Callaghan was struggling with the pain of being gay

O’Callaghan was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft and later played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

In an interview with Outsports, the former athlete tells that he was struggling with accepting his sexuality throughout his professional career.

Related: Bisexual Pro Wrestler Proudly Shows Off His Boyfriend

“If you’re a gay kid and you hear someone you love say ‘fag,’ it makes you think that in their eyes you’re just a fag too,” O’Callaghan told Outsports on a recent visit to Los Angeles for his first-ever Pride celebration. “That got to me a lot.”

“I was abusing painkillers, no question. It helped with the pain of the injuries, and with the pain of being gay. I just didn’t worry about being gay when I took the Vicodin. I just didn’t worry,” he says.

He continues: “As long as there are people killing themselves because they are gay, there is a reason for people like me to share my story and try to help. People need to understand that we are everywhere. We’re your sons, your daughters, your teammates, your neighbors. And honestly, even some of your husbands and wives. You just don’t know it yet…It’s not always easy being honest, but I can tell you it’s much easier and more enjoyable being yourself and not living a lie.”

See the interview below:

Related: Gay Olympian Proposes to Boyfriend on Beach in Rio

Colton Haynes: I Lost My Virginty At 13

Zayn Williams
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Colton Haynes: I Lost My Virginty At 13

Colton Haynes had his first sexual experience with both a guy and a girl when he was 13

The Arrow star appeared on Andy Cohen’s Sirius XM show Monday and told the talk show host about some of his first sexual encounters.

“I lost my virginity at 13 to a girl and a guy,” the newly engaded actor told Cohen. “I’ve never said that before. The girl was two years older than me, and the guy was, I would say, around 16… Everyone participated. It was a real first time. It was exciting.”

Colton Haynes said that he experimentet with both girls and boys during his high school years, but that he new that he was gay when he was 14.

However, it wasn’t until last year that he came out publicly and the actor says he was pressured to stay in the closet by Hollywood.

Related: Colton Haynes Lashes Back Against Coming-Out Criticism

“I was literally told from the day that I moved to Los Angeles that I could not be gay because I wouldn’t work,” he said. “My management team told me I couldn’t be this way and they tried to set me up with girls… It was horrible.”

Colton Haynes claims that coming out as gay has made him happier than ever, but that it was a bittersweet end to a longtime struggle that began at home.

“I’m the last person in the world who would say, ‘Oh, my dad – pity me.’ But I was told that my dad killed himself because he found out I was gay. So, of course, I lost it and was like, ‘How could you say something like that?’ ” the 28-year-old actor revealed in an interview with OUT magazine.

Now, Haynes seems to be happier than ever. He recently got engaged to his boyfriend, celebrity florist Jeff Leatham.

Related: Colton Haynes and Jeff Leatham Are Engaged

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