Child Custody: Hell For Lesbian in Vermont

We all have exes we really want to slap, right?

But what would you do if your ex - who you also had a baby with - claimed she was now straight and ran away with your child?

If you were any sort of normal person I'm guessing you'd be pretty pissed, quite frankly.

Well that's exactly what 'former-lesbian' Lisa Miller has done. Miller and her ex-partner Janet Jenkins got a Civil Union back in 2000 and Miller gave birth to little Isabella Miller-Jenkins in the same year. (That is not the family in question above - there we have an example of a real happy family.)

Now however, Miller has renounced homosexuality altogether and has pretty much gone into hiding in order to keep the child for herself.

The couple broke up way back in 2001, and courts in both Vermont and Virginia ruled in favour of Jenkins, even though she is not the birth mother. Miller did however have some custody over the child, but had since been warned that she may lose her custodial rights if she violated orders any further.

So Miller, who is now in hiding, was probably just scared of losing her daughter for good, but what was she thinking? Now her chances of seeing her daughter on a regular basis are next to nothing.

Jenkins has recently stated that she just wants "to be with her. Like any normal parent."

Thanks to morganSDGLN at Twitter for the tip!

Top Lesbian News of 2009.

Yep, we're back for a second year with the top lesbian news of the year. With one difference: this year we'll be talking about 2009. Duh.

So what makes your top 5?

As it often features in the blog, I'd like to point out the arrival of Jessica Capshaw as the only lesbian character on television.

Grey's Anatomy got rid of one lesbian character last year and faced a lot of backlash from the gay community. But when Arizona came along, no one was complaining. Will we see the arrival of any more lesbians on TV in 2010?

In other television news, it seems that beloved(?) cable network show The L Word went off air this year.

The L Word paved the way for lesbian visibility way back in 2004, being the first show star an all female, mostly lesbian cast. However this year, the L Word showcased its final season. And boy, did it go out with a bang. For all the wrong reasons, of course.

We all saw a whole host of celebrities come out this year, too. From Brandi Carlile to Kelly McGillis, Clementine Ford to Megan Fox, 2009 was very good for the visibility of out, famous females.

Teens will obviously be very grateful for the lesbian romance portrayed on TV drama Skins between Naomi (Lily Loveless) and Emily (Kathryn Prescott).

Good news for 2010 too: they're back! And it looks all very dramatic too. Check out the E4 Website if you want to know more.

Of course, we also saw the re-administration of Proposition 8 in California this year. Bad news for all the gay and lesbian couples who were hoping to get married. Good news for the ones who took advantage of the law being overturned previously - they were allowed to stay married legally.

So what was the best (or worst) lesbian news for you this year? And what are you hoping happens next year?

Bars to Visit: The Loft Lounge, Birmingham, UK

I was recently asked to recommend some good gay bars, so here's my first recommendation.

The Loft Lounge in Birmingham, UK, is a classy, modern bar, ideal for any sophisticated gays wanting a peaceful night out.

Service-wise, staff are very friendly and are willing to wait on your every need. The decor of the place makes you feel instantly very at home and comfortable.

The fact that the Lounge also serves food gives the place an L Word feel, as in, it's pretty much like The Planet. (If you don't know what I mean, brush up on your L Word.) I didn't have any of the food myself, but it smelled damn good.

The versatility of the people in there is also amazing. There was no drama, no fighting - even the straight people there just got on with what they were doing. That's my idea of a night out.

Of course, if you're up for a bit dancing, there are other bars in Birmingham that cater perfectly. (I've been told the best is The Nightingale on Kent Street.)

But if you want a nice night out - or even a date - I recommend The Loft Lounge with full approval.

Lily... Marry Me?

You might remember a while ago that Brit popstar Lily Allen announced that she once 'snogged lesbian twins'.

Well the reason I didn't pick up on this before was because I didn't really like Allen that much. But after seeing her in concert this week, I'm actually in love with the woman.

She slated world leaders in true Brit fashion, sang like a true star and danced like no one was watching. All this is 3 sexy outfits. Brilliant.

So I'm just saying, Lily, if you ever want to 'snog' me, I'm totally in acceptance.

Marriage is on the cards, it seems.

Make way for SuperBeals!

I'd like to take a time out, just to worship this lady.

That's right, I want to worship Jennifer Beals. Also known as SuperBeals, 'The Beals', JJB and Bette Porter. Or, if you're straight, 'that chick from Flashdance.'

So why am I worshipping her? Well, can you think of a reason I shouldn't? Other than the fact that she's not gay, of course.

The main reason I'm writing this is because I've recently been re-watching The L Word from the beginning, and I realized that it is actually Beals who keeps everything together. The first season (clearly the best season) has so much dramatic content because of this lady. Keeps me on my toes she does.

In real life, Jennifer has done a lot to campaign for the rights of homosexuals. She frequently makes speeches about her life growing up as a bi-racial child that move people to tears. Her acting ability is second to none; go on, admit that you were stumped when you found out she was straight after watching L for the first time. No other straight actress makes lesbian sex scenes look so seamless.

So there we have it. This is why I love Superbeals.

Why do you love her?

Ming Ahh!

When you're the first person to do anything, you know you're special. For example, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, and I'm guessing he felt pretty great about being the first person to do that.

So who else has done something first? Meet this lady.

That right there is Ming Na, the first regular lesbian character to star in all 16 seasons and 3 movies of the Stargate franchise. Wait, I missed out the first Asian lesbian regular to star on television. EVER! That's right, I don't just mean in Stargate. She is the first regular Asian lesbian character to star on any show that has ever been created.

Screw you Bell, that's an achievement.

In Stargate, we see Na's character Camile and her partner Sharon together. I've been told that the episode titled 'Life' is a great example of fabulous acting and a realistic depiction of lesbians in the real world.

Come to think of it, it sort of sucks that there aren't more gay women of colour or ethnicity on our screens.

We have Latino diva Sara Ramirez on Grey's Anatomy, we previously had bi-racial Jennifer Beals and African American lovely Rose Rollins on lesbian smash The L Word and now we have this Asian beauty.

But that's about it on British and American television. I'm sure there are more, but in comparison to straight women of different ethnic origins, there are hardly any.

The moral of the story is that lesbians are better than telephones.

Ming Na - 1.

Alexander Graham - 0.

- Thanks to tweetbian TheMiR43 for the tip!

Lesbian Sex: What works and what doesn't?

I've never been a fan of open sex talk, but as a lesbian blogger, I feel it is my duty.

As requested, I have decided to publish a post about sex.

I have a few questions myself. For example, does LBD (Lesbian Bed Death) really exist? I for one have not experienced it with any of my partners, so I was just wondering if anyone else had.

Anyway... Let's talk positions and techniques. What works and what doesn't?

Favourites traditionally include scissoring, oral and sex in the shower, but which of these is the favourite among lesbians? (Vote in the poll to the right or leave a comment!)

Another question: What is so sexy about sex against a wall? Is it the coldness of the wall you're leaning against or is it simply that you have complete control over your victim? I know what my answer would be, but I, along with other lesbians, am intrigued (and slightly nosey) to see what other lesbians think.

How about foreplay? Do you like it to last for a long time, or is it better to get straight into some passionate love-making?

I understand that this post is mostly a series of questions, but it'd be great to know the general feeling towards sex from others.

Comment if you want to state your arguments and opinions.