Bill Daley of The Chicago Tribune reports a celebrity gay couple has spoken out publicly in response to recent homophobic comments made at a college talk by 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

During the talk, Huckabee said he believes gays shouldn’t be allowed to adopt.  He dissed gays as parents by complaining that when it comes to parenting children, ‘we aren’t dealing with puppies’.

Well now, there is much I can say about that comment, but, suffice it to say (more…)

Back to life/back to reality…thank the goddess!

Wow!  I will tell you it’s GREAT to be back to the ‘normal’ routine which is, I confess, never really normal around here.  I call it ‘creative’ and, heaven forbid, ‘controlled chaos!’.

How did your holiday and new year’s go?  If you are reading this at least I know you survived!!!

I want to thank the many friends and family who put me up, fed me, housed me, babysat Ruby (my 16 year old miniature pinscher) and entertained me back in my hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, during the holidays.  It was great to catch up and my only regret is that I wasn’t able to see everyone I wanted to see.  I am fortunate to have many ‘angels’, and, even if I didn’t directly mention you here, you know who you are!

While I thoroughly enjoyed our travels, it felt so good returning home to the peaceful, centered, deeply satisfying and more authentic life and environment I am creating for myself.  At this moment Ms. Ruby lies snoring softly at my feet.  She did amazingly well on the car ride (almost 1,000 miles each way).  In fact, you will laugh:  our first day back she got up, ate and went back to bed for the rest of the day!  And now, she’s back to her routine:  reminding me daily when it’s time to get off that phone or out of that chair and go for a nice walk.

I want to highlight a special thank you to:

PLUS Baltimore – a gay business group in Baltimore, Maryland, who held a wonderful gathering at the beautiful Garrett Mansion/Engineer’s Society in Baltimore City.  PLUS needs a new leader so, if you are a gay or gay-friendly business owner or professional in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, I hope you’ll seriously consider helping out.  If you want to learn more, email me. 

PLUS was started 14 years ago and is ready for it’s next ‘iteration’!  What’s the benefit to you?  As you know the GLBT marketplace is so hot these days it’s on fire!  You could be at the helm of this group as it goes into it’s next chapter, where I suspect big stuff will happen as the GLBT marketplace continues to grow/heat up.  And, consider the benefit:  what great, FREE advertising/marketing for YOUR business!!!

Congratulations Rainbow Ranch on an amazing 2006

I also want to send out some congratulations to Heather and all the four-legged babies over at Rainbow Ranch!  Those of you who know me well know that Rainbow Ranch is my adopted charity (AKA my ‘minpin paradise’).  Heather succeeded this past year at achieving (and in some cases even exceeding) the Ranch’s 2006 strategic plan and all of us involved with the ranch are looking forward to an even better 2007.

If you’d like to learn more about this amazing non-profit organization, click here.

Coach Sappho?  is living her best life, are you???

I know I’ve been fast out of the gate here in 2007.  No details yet, but on the diet and exercise front I am starting a structured eating plan, for the first time in my life!  Stay tuned for more details!  I need to lose 30-40 pounds and perhaps 2007 is the year!

Business-wise things are wild ‘n wooly as usual.  I continue to train (Couples III, which is a course that will help me help committed couples create greater levels of happiness – called bliss – together!) at the Relationship Coaching Institute, which is a marvelous program for anyone who is serious about becoming a relationship coach or adding that service to their practice. 

I’m also taking two, very intense business programs that will also help me expand what I can offer to you.  So, very busy and very exciting indeed around here!  For those of you who know the Thomas Leonard story, I can tell you I think it’s true that he was so into what he was doing he passed on in his 40′s because he ‘burned up’ like a star!  Now, before you freak, this is a good thing – I believe his soul completed it’s work here and he moved on to his next, greatest purpose!

HINT:  all of this means, keep your eyes and ears open for the roll out of some exciting opportunities for you to create the relationship of your dreams in 2007!!!

Here’s what’s new in GAY, Ocala, Florida

We are ‘roaring out of the gate’ here in GAY Ocala, Florida.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with the ‘state’ of  things for GLBT’s here in north central Florida, it could be much, much better, especially for GLBT youth!  In addition, during the 2008 election, there is a vote on the Florida ballot to add a nasty marriage clause to the state’s constitution which would define marriage as between a man and a woman. 

So, if you live in Florida, please, please, please, join your local chapter of organizations such as HRC or Equality Florida and start preparing to fight this ugly spectre on the state of Florida.  And, if you have loved ones in Florida, put a bug in their ear to get off their butt and get involved.  Or, if you want there are also upcoming issues with gay adoption and safe schools as the legislature convenes so there is plenty of help needed!!!

What are we up to in Ocala, Florida?  Some big, juicy, OUT THERE stuff, IS being planned for the upcoming ‘Freedom to Marry’ week, February 11-17, 2007.  Stay tuned for details.

Here’s a fantastic new internet resource for lesbian parents:  LesbianFamily.org

Before I finish today’s post I wanted to tell you about an amazing new blog I’ve discovered that is really multiple blogs in one and, even more importantly, the blog has two aspects hard to find on the internet up till now:

1)  The blog is all lesbian

2)  The blog is focused on lesbian parenting

The blog is LesbianFamily.org and you must go there and check it out!  Especially if you are a mom or are considering it, be sure to find out what resources exist there.  And, even if you’ve never considered being a parent, why not?  I know that, for me, I didn’t consider it because during my 20′s and 30′s, there was very little to no support in a visible way for lesbians to parent.  That is no longer so for us, if you so choose!

I want to thank the ladies over at lesbianfamily.org for providing such a quality resource to the lesbian community.
Signing off (from paradise!) for now!

Barb Elgin, LCSW-C

P.S.  here’s an additional gay and lesbian parenting resource to check out:Pride Parenting – A national website created by my friend and colleague, Matt Skallerud, over at GayWired.  Full of articles and resources for gay and lesbian parents and gay and lesbian parents ‘to be’.

 

Can you say you absolutely love your life and your work?  Well I can.  And I want the same for you.  You see, I truly believe that the only life worth living is the examined one and that all of us are here for more than meets the eye!  All of us are conscious, loving beings, and I believe we are continuously becoming more of who we are…if we choose to connect with and nurture that part of ourselves.  I know what a challenge all of this can be, making your life your own when you’ve still got to pay the bills, wash the dishes and put up with others who care more about taking your freedoms away than making life better for all!  However, I do know this:  feeling more alive and deeper life satisfaction awaits those who courageously choose their authentic path! 

So, if…

• you are a GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered) or GLBT-friendly individual, couple, parent(s), family, group or organization and you are ready to clarify your individual and/or mutual life vision(s) and live that vision with gusto OR
• you are GLBT (or think you might be) and you are ready to live a more authentic life

I’ll bet it’s worth your time to get to know me.  To get started, be sure to check out:

• Coach Sappho®, which I founded in 2001, offers exciting, cutting edge relationship enhancement and improvement coaching, seminars and conferences (by telephone and in person) for singles and couples who sincerely value and are committed to finding, creating and cherishing a deeply satisfying, lifelong relationship with an ‘ideal’ partner.
• LesbianDatingCoach, a blog specifically for lesbian singles, 18 and up.
• Authentic Loving, a blog where you’ll find oodles of relationship articles and posts written by myself and other experts, online discussions, tips and resources.
• Relationship MAGIC for Life, where you’ll learn 5 keys to relationship success.
• Authentic Gay Living, which provides a ‘safe place’ exploring what it means to live an authentic gay life and why supporting individuals for doing so is morally right.

© 2001-2006, Barb Elgin (DBA BE A Success Enterprises, LLC). Coach Sappho® is a registered U.S. Trademark, 2006-2011. All rights reserved.