It’s been quite busy around here, necessitating my decision to change the time and day of Coach Sappho’s podcast.   I’ve moved Coach Sappho’s podcast to the first and third Thursdays of each month at 4p ET.  Please make note of it.  If you’re already a podcast subscriber, you’ll get a show reminder by Wednesday.

We hope you can join us during the live shows, but, if you can’t, be sure to pick up your free copy of Coach Sappho’s Podcast for listening when it’s right for you.  All podcast subscribers get free copies of all of our podcasts.

(more…)

I’m sure you’ve heard, but, in case you didn’t:

Cindy McCain has joined her daughter Meghan McCain (who has been outspoken in her support of same sex marriage) in speaking up against hate (and possibly gay marriage) by posing for one of those Adam Brouska No H8 photo shoots.  Meghan also posed for No H8 late last year.

Way to go Cindy!  Of course republicans are up in arms, including her husband John McCain’s office, which has put out a statement supporting Cindy’s ‘right’ to think differently and reiterating John’s support of marriage between a man and a woman only!  And, I hear that another, more conservative republican who is planning to run against McCain during the next election is already using this event to drum up support against the re-election of McCain.

Well, leave it to the ladies to evolve us forward…AGAIN!  

Sorry guys,  I may be a lesbian but I’m not a man hater.  I just state what I observe…

(more…)

Janice Langbehn and her partner Lisa Pond

By Barb Elgin, LCSW

I’m deeply honored and happy to announce that Janice Langbehn, one of the GLBT community’s biggest ‘sheroes’ will appear on my podcast

GLBT Talk with Barb and Donna

on Tuesday evening 10/27/09 at 6:30p ET.

Janice’s story has been in the national spotlight recently as well as much of the last two or so years since her life took a dramatic turn.

In 2007 Janice’s partner of 18 years, Lisa Pond, died suddenly and unexpectedly due to a brain aneurysm, while they were getting ready to enjoy a family vacation together.  Janice and Lisa probably treasured the vision of that vacation more than most; over the years they’d been amazing foster parents of over 25 children!

As if Lisa’s death wasn’t painful enough, the way Janice was treated in the hospital during Lisa’s final hours was unthinkable.  I can promise you the details will anger you.

And, recently, Janice was treated wrongly again when she learned her lawsuit against the Florida hospital that mistreated her was thrown out of court. We are amazed by Janice and we can’t wait to talk to her to learn more about her life today, her loving family and to find out what’s next for her.

Donna and I are humbled that Janice has chosen to share with us personal information about her life and the details of her own tragedy.  I am certain that Janice’s continuing sacrifice is part of the fabric of gradually changing hearts and minds and leading society closer to full rights and equality for gay and lesbian couples.

Please come to the live show, meet Janice, ask her questions and give her support. We’re giving this show a full hour to be sure we have enough time.  If you are already a podcast subscriber, look for attendance details to arrive in your email inbox soon.  If you aren’t yet a podcast subscriber, click here to sign up.  It’s free!

Barb Elgin, MSW, LCSW, Certified Singles Coach, is Coach Sappho: America’s Favorite Lesbian Love Coach and Matchmaker.  Are YOU ready for love? Ready to find out?  Take Coach Sappho’s FREE Love Quiz.

© Copyright 2009, Barb Elgin.  All Rights Reserved.  Feel free to forward this article as long as attribution remains intact.

Disclaimer: The suggestions and feedback offered in this column are but one perspective of multiple approaches to dealing with problems or challenges. Information provided in articles and advice columns should not be used as a substitute for coaching or therapy when these services are needed. None of this information should be your only source when making important life decisions. This information should not be used for diagnosing or treating a particular problem, nor should it take the place of a consultation with a trained professional. It is your responsibility to consult a professional prior to making any life decisions.

Your presence is often the best present.
- Quote on a piece of Dove chocolate I ate today

Now that we are past Labor Day and, in fact, living the day of 9/9/09, I just have to ask you…

Will you take time today, with all the hustle ‘n bustle (hehehe – I know silly ol’ saying), to enjoy the present? Yes it sounds so trite, however, I am just reminding you that you always have a choice to slow down and savor whatever it is you are doing, anytime YOU choose today.

When you do, notice what you ‘love’ about that moment.  And, make note of it.  Are you enjoying as many ‘presents’ as you can?  Are you enjoying what you are doing and, choosing to do more of what you enjoy? (more…)

Happy, happy Thursday to you.  What’s new with you?  I want to say:

Congratulations to Maine for legalizing same sex marriage and putting the issue behind them, hopefully once and for all.

I’m sure Maine ‘gets it’ that there are some very pressing domestic issues facing them, locally and nationally, such as the environment and the economy and those are the types of issues all of us, regardless of our differences, need to gather around and work together to improve.

Allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry can only help both Maine’s and the U.S.’s economy as well as help Maine’s communities in many other small, ‘quality of life’ ways.  The ‘doom and gloom’ scenarios the right have been putting out there are just that – scenarios, born of fear-based thinking that just doesn’t exist.  Worse yet, what a waste of human energy fighting against love.  Perhaps eventually these ‘anti-equality’ folks will get it.

The news today keeps getting better as I’ve got some of my own excitement to share…

I’ve been invited to write for a very interesting, visible, and popular GLBT web site – called Queercents.

Have you checked out Queercents?  This is a site that hit the ground running a few years ago and hasn’t stopped since.  Queercents has experienced rapid growth in content and readership.  It was founded by Nina Smith, who really understands the variety of financial issues facing GLBT’s.  I just love their tag line,

“We’re here, we’re queer and we’re not going shopping without coupons”.

I want to thank Nina for featuring me and my Queercents blog on their home page today, which I’ve titled:

Talkin’ About Lesbian Love: Secrets to Surviving the Lesbian Love Jungle

Nina notes in the feature – “It’s even rumored recently ‘out’ actress Kelly McGillis may be calling Coach Sappho for tips on surviving the lesbian love jungle”!

Well – we’d be glad to invite Kelly to join us here at Coach Sappho.  Kelly, you’d fit in here perfectly.  Kelly, check out Lez Rendezvous!

Queercents has a bevy of authors and topical discussions, all related in some way to GLBT’s and finances.  Be sure to check them out, it’s high quality stuff.

Savor each moment today!

Barb Elgin

Greg Halpen, TheGayGuysLoveCoach

I had a blast last night talking with Greg Halpen on Blogtalkradio’s TheGayGuysLoveCoach.  Thank you to Greg for inviting me onto the show and for being such a tremendous host.

Greg and I covered several ‘juicy’ areas during our discussion.  We even had a wedding planner call in to discuss how to handle couples who get ‘testy’ during the wedding preparations process.

Be sure you click here to listen in, the show lasted approximately 30 minutes.  You can listen via streaming and you can download a copy of the show via mp3 as well.

BTW, Greg and I are cooking up an event for the single gals and guys in New York City later this summer, so, be on the lookout for more information to come soon!

We cannot allow our community to be erased,” said
Amy Balliett, co-founder of Join the Impact. “Tax season is yet another time where
same-sex couples are reminded that despite abiding by the requirements of American citizenship by paying our taxes, we are still are treated as second class citizens.”

I don’t know about you but what a relief to have the taxes done for another year!  I hear more than usual procrastinated this year.  I’m sure there is the usual percentage of those who put it off, but, this year, many avoided doing their taxes because it was hard looking ‘long and hard’ at the reality of the losses that happened this past year, on multiple levels.

Well, there is another big loss, that has been happening forever, at least on the federal level (and in most states), and that is the lack of tax and inheritance protections for same sex couples, protections straight married couples take for granted.  Protections some straight couples want to withhold from gay couples.

I came across a great article on Echelon Magazine that talks about the issue, how much more clearly and boldly gay activists are telling this story, that must be told, and points to the congressional study that showed NOT granting same sex couples tax and inheritance rights is much more expensive to our government and society as a whole.

Click here for the article.

And, btw, congratulations to my home state of Maryland, who is moving to pass a law giving same sex couples tax and inheritance protections, on a state level.  The only step remaining is for Governor O’Malley to sign the bill, which he has already indicated he will.  Click here for more information.  Wahoo!