Lesbian Life

Being in a long distance relationship is hard enough. There are bound to be insecurities, loneliness and maybe even jealousy. So, what if you're in a long distance relationship and your partner is not even sure she wants to commit? Do you give her time and space to figure it out, or do you cut the strings? Guest columnist Emily Wilcox tackles this issue in today's column.
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Can you tell from this picture which of these women are lesbian? What if you happened to have a crush on one of them and wanted to ask her out? How could you tell is she's gay or not? There isn't really any one formula or checklist to determine if someone is a lesbian or not, but there are certain things you can look out for. Want to know if she's a lesbian or not? These tips might help you figure it out.

Motherhood changes a lot of things. Your sleep cycle gets interrupted, your social life slows down and you spend more time at home. Having a baby can also have an impact on your sex life. Having a baby changes your body and if one of you gave birth to the new baby, your partner might not understand how things are different for you now. This week for Sexy Friday and Mother's Day we talked to Dr. Carol Queen about the impact of childbirth and motherhood on your sex life.

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The news in North Carolina was upsetting. But today, for the first time, a United States president has said he supports same-sex marriage.  In an interview with Robin Roberts on CBS News the President said, "I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."

President Obama has said his views on marriage have been "evolving." It is likely he's been supportive of same-sex marriage all along, but was afraid to say so because he didn't want to lose votes. Yet, despite yesterday's loss in North Carolina, Americans are moving toward acceptance of same-sex marriage, as was revealed by a Gallup poll earlier this week.

This is historic news and will greatly distinguish President Obama from his Republican opponent Mitt Romney in the 2012 elections.

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On Tuesday, voters in North Carolina decided to pass a constitutional amendment that bans the recognition of any kind of relationship except for marriage. That not only means that same-sex marriage won't become legal there any time soon, but also that no kind of domestic partnership shall be recognized, whether gay or straight.

The exact language is of Amendment One is: "A Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."

Gay marriage was already illegal in North Carolina. This new amendment, which was approved by 61 % of voters is like spitting on a coffin of an already dead person.

Opponents fear that couples will lose health benefits, children will lose their insurance and even that domestic violence cases may be dropped if the couple is not married.

Although public opinion is changing and coming to accept same-sex marriage, what Amendment One has shown us is that we will not win equality by letting the public majority decide if we deserve rights or not. This loss proves that we need to continue to fight the equal rights battle in the courts and at the federal level.

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Sometimes holding onto a grudge feels better than forgiving. But even when you know you should forgive, that it will be better for your mental health and physical well-being, it can be hard to do. That's what this week's Ask Emily question is about: Forgiving an ex for leaving you.

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A study out today by Gallup finds that half of all Americans support marriage equality. When asked the question: "Do you think marriage between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law, as valid with the same rights as traditional marriage?" fifty percent of Americans say they should.

Back in 1996 when the question was asked, only 27% of Americans supported same-sex marriage. While the support for marriage equality has grown since then, last year 53% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, which was the first time a majority of people polled supported it. Gallup reports that the drop from last year to this is not statistically significant, but it's also not the same as an increase.

Interestingly, the American public is divided across political parties on the issue. Almost two-thirds of Democrats support legalizing gay marriage, compared with 22% of Republicans.

The results of this poll are coming out on the heels of Vice President Joe Biden declaring he is "absolutely comfortable" with the idea of same-sex couples and heterosexual couples having the exact same rights and civil liberties.

President Obama has yet to say that he favors same-sex marriage, but it is clear that he has done a lot for gay and lesbian couples, including overturning "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," passing the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act and signing a law ensuring gay and lesbian couples can visit their partners in hospitals.

As this poll comes out, voters in North Carolina are deciding whether gay and lesbian couples should have any of the rights of marriage.

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Having a good sex life starts with having a good night's sleep. So, what do you do if you're compatible sexually with your partner, but you just don't sleep well together? Does she steal the sheets or snore? May is Better Sleep Month so we spoke with Dr. Robert Oexman, Director of the Sleep to Live Institute. He share some tips with us about how couples can sleep together better.

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How do you know when it's the right time to break up with someone? Is there a way to do it without hurting them? What if they get mad or say mean things about you to your friends? Is there any way to break up with someone  without causing pain?

More

• How to Break Up with a Girlfriend
• How to Survive a Break Up
• The best Lesbian Break Up Songs

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There is a battle going on for same-sex marriage in Washington State. If supporters of equality win, Washington could be the next state to legalize gay marriage. Washington is a big, diverse and beautiful state with small towns and big cities. Whether your dream is to get married on the beach, in the mountains, in a city park or a small country church, Washington probably has a place that can accommodate your dream wedding. We scoured the state and came up with some of our favorite wedding venues in the state. Here are the top places for gays and lesbians to get married in Washington State.

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