My new radio show — Sex Out Loud!

I'm very excited to announce that I will be hosting a new radio show, Sex Out Loud, on the VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network! The show debuts this Friday, June 1 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time, 8 p.m. Eastern Time, and my first guest will be sex advice columnist and author Dan Savage!

Here's more about the show:

Sex Out Loud explores the world of sexuality from every angle. Tristan Taormino will interview leading authors, educators, artists and icons and give listeners an uncensored, inside look at alternative sexual practices and communities. She'll delve into topics from the popular to the taboo, including sex education and sexual health, erotic fantasies, BDSM, non-monogamy, the adult industry, and more. Tristan and her guests will also answer listeners' questions live . . . Upcoming guests include Kate Bornstein, Buck Angel, Jaclyn Friedman, Jessica Valenti, Bobbi Starr, Susie Bright, and her daughter, Aretha Bright.

. . . "Tristan Taormino is known around the world for her honest, down to earth, sex-positive advice, books, and films," says Karen Dana, Executive Producer of Sex Out Loud. "We are so thrilled that she's joining the VoiceAmerica Network, and her show is sure to inform and inspire our listeners."

. . . Sex Out Loud is sponsored by The Smitten Kitten, an award-winning progressive sex toy retailer; Astroglide, one of the leading personal lubricant brands; and We-Vibe, the most popular rechargeable vibrator for couples in the world.

Sex Out Loud will air live on Fridays at 5 p.m. Pacific, 8 p.m. Eastern on The VoiceAmerica Variety Channel. All shows will be available in my content library on The VoiceAmerica Variety Channel for on-demand and podcast download.

I hope you all will tune in!

Being “open” on Facebook

As a non-monogamous person, what's the best way to handle your relationship status on Facebook? Cunning Minx wrote a post on this issue. It's important to remember, she says, that Facebook's privacy settings are tricky and employers may be able to access sensitive information that you list on your profile. And those aren't the only people who might be able to see it. As she explains,

. . . the internet and social sites such as Facebook have indeed changed things. Your boyfriend’s public open status does affect you in many ways, not the least of which is that now anyone with mutual Facebook friends can discover you are poly. For most people, this might be a public embarrassment or cause some eyebrow raises at the office or at Thanksgiving, nothing more. If that’s the case, no worries. But keep in mind that in addition to your your mom and grandma being able to discover your open status, that bitter ex-husband might also see that Facebook status. And unfortunately, that documentation has been used in child custody cases to argue against a person being a fit parent.

I don't mean to be too gloom and doom here. The point is that since data lives forever online and Facebook has shameful privacy policies, it is perfectly acceptable -- nay, it’s your responsibility -- to discuss public online disclosures of your relationship status in order to protect your own privacy.

Read the rest, and leave a comment about how you navigate social media, on Cunning Minx's post.

The Righteous Harlot opens up

Writing for the new community blog Awesome Women of Twitter, The Righteous Harlot — whose personal blog features the tagline the messy back end of an open relationship — contributed a post entitled "As In, To Swing?"

It's a sort-of run-down of how she came to be in an open relationship with her partner, Virgil (she doesn't really identify as a swinger). She also includes some of the lessons she's learned so far about being open:

If you're going to be happy in an open relationship you have to be open to more than just your partner having sex [or relationships] with other people. You have to be open to life and to allowing lots of things to be fluid and less certain. This is probably the hardest bit, to be honest.

You also have to sort your shit out and work out what you actually want from your relationships rather than what society has taught you is your right to expect.

Don't give a shit about other people and what they might think. A lot of people will have a pretty simplistic knee-jerk reaction to the idea. It’s your life. Make your own choices.

Read the rest at Awesome Women of Twitter.

Poly lesbians in Cherrie magazine

Cherrie is a monthly Australian magazine that covers lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender and intersex news and entertainment. In their April issue, and for the first installment of a new series called "Modern Love," the magazine profiled two relationships, one of them a lesbian poly one. Tathra and Emma had been dating for five years when a third person, Jac, began seeing Emma. Now they live together.

Having an ethical polyamorous relationship that works, is based on agreements. For these women, it's clear and simple. Don't bitch about each other. If any of them have a disagreement it must get resolved before they sleep with someone else. Keep in open communication and even talk about it as a group. Schedule date nights. Don't take each other for granted. Be present with whomever you're with in the moment.

. . . The bond between the three of them is palpable. I'm moved by their maturity and the depth to examine who they are in relationships. Jac says, "Even jealousy is not forbidden or taboo."

Read the rest from Cherrie.