WebTalkRadio.net » Queer & Dear

Dr. Frankie and Rachel Gill reflect on the frustration of not being seen or welcomed into the lesbian community because of their feminine appearance. Often excluded because of their look, Frankie and Rachel were advised they “should look more gay,” if they wanted to attract dates. Listen as Frankie and Rachel share their struggle with “fitting in” to a lesbian culture and how, by choosing their own paths, they gained the confidence that now allows them to feel pride in their femme identity. If you’d like to reach Rachel Gill directly please visit her website at: rachelgillcomedy.com or message her through her Facebook page which is rachelgillcomedy If you’re interested in coaching or matchmaking please contact Dr. Frankie directly at www.littlegaybook.com or call 415.990.2929

You’ve seen award-winning comedian Bridget McManus warm up audiences on Queen Latifah, Last Comic Standing and Chelsea, and you’ve watched her in a variety of comedy specials. But this week, she confesses about something completely different: Her 8 year marriage to Karman Kregloe, that she says, “…was the best decision of my life.” Her tips for igniting the spark in a long-term relationship, how to have “family talks,” and how to keep your partner attracted to you are priceless. While I might be the psychologist, Mcmanus has some solid advice that everyone in a relationship can use.

The trailblazing lead guitarist was an FBI Agent, a lawyer and a musician when women musicians weren’t respected. How did she do it? Listen in as she shares her rich lesbian story of success through patience and dedication, during an era when opportunities were tight and lesbians weren’t out.

Lesbians love women who make them laugh. But what are relationships like when you’re funny for a living? Award winning comedian, Dana Goldberg tells me all about it during this week’s podcast. Hear her share with me how her funniest material comes from her love life – the crazy ladies, the bad break ups & all the conquests in between.

Continuing our exploration of bisexuality, today’s guest is author and MFT sex therapist, Moushumi Ghose, owner of Los Angeles Sex Therapy and a proud bisexual. With bisexuality and bi-visibility such a charged topic, I wanted my listeners to hear from a variety of bisexual women and Mou is particularly articulate when discussing bi-visibility in how it’s portrayed in the media, how it shows up in heteronormative & monogamous relationships vs open or non monogamous, and especially how it shows up in her own life. It’s an entertaining listen, despite the heady topic. If you’d like to read more, her most recent book is, “Classic Sex Reinvented, ” and available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Now that Marriage Equality is legal, we’re ready to focus on what else our community needs. Is it safety? Is it identity? Is it lesbian? Listen as Frankie and Curve Magazine Editor-in-Chief Merryn Johns plunge deep into the changing concerns of identities, labels, Trans-visibility, and the rumor that “lesbian,” is disappearing. Do we need a separate media for LGBT? How do we attend to the fluidity of sexuality while still staying relevant to the needs of the community? Listen in and give the sexiest organ of your body (your brain) the attention it needs.

Bisexuality and biphobia are real. Bisexual women struggle with being accepted by both the gay and straight community and are subjected to a variety of ridicule and prejudice. Often referred to as “confused,” or more unfaithful than lesbians, bisexual women struggle with having to “come out” in both communities. Listen to my interview with a real, live, bisexual woman, Simone Thelemaque. Thelemaque is a mother, a double major college student and the founder of a non-profit focused on ending hunger one left-over catering tray at a time. She works hard to subvert the status quo and she just happens to be bisexual. Listen to her story and learn.

As the cruise director for Olivia Cruises, the largest lesbian leisure company in the world, Tisha Floratos KNOWS what lesbians want: Good food, good fun and good community. Listen as she shares how awesome (and envy producing) the vacations are, how introverts do well on the cruises and what it’s like to take over 250,000 women on 250 trips over the last 26 years.

Can you fall in love with someone of the same gender and not really be gay? Today’s guest was in search of an answer and determined to figure it out for herself. In doing so, she went on a quest of self discovery which included taking a Carribean cruise with 3,000 lesbians. What happened at the end of the trip? Listen in to find out. Learn more about Dr. Frankie at www.littlegaybook.com Please also follow us on Twitter @littlegaybook and Facebook  

Interview with Gabrielle Glancy, author of “Vera,” a new novel called “too sexy,” by publishers, that is now being rushed to press. Clifford Chase calls VERA, “A new kind of novel: a love story of ideas, a lyrical romp, a faux mystery with genuine heart.”  ?Part Don Quixote bubbling dreamer, part reckless detective, the narrator of Vera pilots her way through a murky urban terrain, in search of love and answers. What she discovers in a 1990’s San Francisco, stuck somewhere between AIDS and 9/11, is not what she sets out to find. Listen to my interview with Glancy as she discusses the many dazzling rejections of Vera, the journey of Vera and how her/his journey is more relevant today than ever before.

My chiropractor Dwayne and his partner of 16 years just got married. When I learned he had been partnered for over a decade and only now decided to tie the knot, I was curious about his story: After all this time, what’s Dwayne’s secret and why now did he choose to get married? Dwayne shared with me his Long-Term Love Relationship Cocktail: 2 Parts Consistency, 1 Part Trust, 3 Parts Sex and lots and lots of Listening. Tune in as he gives us simple ways that we all can show our partners how we love them, and still staying true to ourselves. Learn more about Dr. Frankie at www.littlegaybook.com Please also follow us on Twitter: @littlegaybook and Facebook: Little Gay Book 

How do you move forward after spending so many years with one person? How do you navigate the extraction process, while still forging ahead with your dating life? Join me and author/lesbian expert Kathy Belge as dive into the prickly details of our own stories of struggle and success and share how you CAN mend your heart after a lesbian divorce and date again.

Do you find lesbian dating an exhausting endeavor that leaves you tired and hopeless? Listen to this week’s podcast with Andrea, a self-proclaimed “successful dater” who will give you four hard core practical tips to make dating more fun, more successful and more fulfilling. She’ll talk about how to “show up curious,” how to “power pose” to increase your confidence and how to stay grounded and redirect if the date appears to be going awry. The hope is that with these tips, you’ll be more present, more confident and have enough space to determine if this person is right for you, or you’re desire to get laid is only voice you’re hearing. Learn more about Dr. Frankie at www.littlegaybook.com Follow us on Twitter @littlegaybook and Facebook

Up until last year, marriage wasn’t an option for same sex couples and many in the community never considered the possibility of walking down the aisle with their partners. Now that it’s legal, some same sex couples are struggling with how to frame their lives and relationships in regards to marriage. Listen as Lianne, a queer, Asian-American from Boston discusses the challenges associated with instituting a heterosexual construction upon our relationships. Discussion includes how we might consider marriage as more a union, instead of a “till death due us part,” how the idea of “impermanence” can release us from relationship expectations as well as an examination of monogamy, open relationships and polyamory. Learn more about Dr. Frankie at www.littlegaybook.com Follow us on Twitter @littlegaybook and Facebook

Interracial lesbian couples face more resistance from their social environment than interracial couples. Listen to two women in interracial lesbian couples discuss their challenges, including discrimination, racism and how to work through cultural differences through direct, loving, mindful communication. Nicole is dating a Palestinian and Egyptian woman and Dr. Frankie is dating an African American woman. Both share their approach to navigating a relationship with someone who is of a different culture and/or race.

This weeks guest on Queer and Dear is Eve who is a San Francisco resident and director of a fortunate 500 company. She is also a good friend of Dr. Frankie’s. Recently Dr. Frankie and Eve were having a girl’s conversation about a sexual experience Eve had that was unpleasant. Dr. Frankie thought listeners could learn from Eve’s experience. Today’s show highlights the importance of kissing, asking for what you need from your partner sexually, making sex and intimacy a priority, and trying new things that sometimes push you out of your comfort zone.  Learn more about Dr. Frankie at www.littlegaybook.com Please also follow us on Twitter @littlegaybook and Facebook

Are you wondering whether to work with a coach or psychotherapist? Have you wondered what the difference is between a coach and a psychotherapist? Learn about the differences between coaching and psychotherapy. Join Dr. Frankie and April Hirschman, a dating and relationship coach in a discussion that covers topics such as coach/therapist self disclosure, approrpiate boundaries and etiquette, and ideas about what makes coaching and therapy efficacious. Learn more about Dr. Frankie at www.littlegaybook.com Please also follow us on Twitter @littlegaybook and Facebook If you’re interested in contacting April Hirschman directly for coaching please email her at april.hirschman@gmail.com 

Listen to Julia share her experience of the steps she took in coming out to her family. She highlights the importance of being honest, direct and authentic, of not being attached to the outcome, picking your battles and not trying to convince your family to think differently. She also advises that it’s a process that takes time, and everyone has his/her method to coming out.

Jacqueline is a blonde/blue eyed, independent, international teacher, and successful life coach, looking for her feminine of center, life partner. She’s ready for adventure and she’s also in a wheelchair. Lesbians in wheelchairs aren’t seen as sexual beings and dates automatically believe they’ll be her caretaker. Jackie is more optimistic, and shares not only her experience, but offers listeners suggestions about how to date more successfully with a disability and resources to learn more about how to get helpful support within the community.

Today we’re discussing what it means to be in the Little Gay Book matchmaking database. Shelley Simpson who was a screened member of Little Gay Book shares about her personal experience and process of getting involved. Shelley is now partnered and responsible for social media and marketing at LGB matchmaking. We discuss the differences between being a free member and a screened member. Shelley shares her experience of going on a date through LGB matchmaking. She also offers suggestions and tips for folks considering hiring a matchmaker or at the very least submitting a free confidential profile. For those folks who are on the fence about completing a confidential profile, you’ll definitely want to tune into this show to get a better understanding on what it means to be in the Little Gay Book database. If you’re interested in contacting Shelley Simpson directly for marketing and social media needs please do so by visiting her website www.smallandmightymarketing.com. If you’re interested in learning more about matchmaking by Little Gay Book, LLC or coaching with Dr. Frankie please visit www.littlegaybook.com or find us on Twitter and Facebook.