Hooking up,
finding love, part 4

Kymberli Martinez Age: 27 Residence: Davis, Calif. Occupation: Bookkeeper and tax preparer Identifies as: Lesbian Relationship status: Partnered two years

My partner, Cindi, and I met in an online pagan group. We e-mailed each other (as friends) for two years, wrote letters, and talked on the phone for almost a year. I was living in Seattle at the time, and she was in Ventura, Calif. The summer of 2003, I went through a really bad breakup, and we talked on the phone daily. That October, I flew to Ventura to meet her for the first time, and a month later she moved up to Seattle to be with me. In April of 2004 we moved back to California. We're planning our commitment ceremony for May 1, 2006. I never intended to find my life partner online, but we would never have met any other way.

David Nall Age: 38 Residence: Baton Rouge, La. Occupation: Entrepreneur Identifies as: Gay Relationship status: Partnered 13 1/2 years

I was working as a manager at a local convenience store in December 1992. Knowing I was single, one of my coworkers told me about a blond man who worked at the restaurant next door. One afternoon, my coworker called me from my office, telling me that the blond was on his way to our store from the restaurant. I took over working the cash register, rang up his purchase, and wrote my phone number on the receipt. What I didn't know until later was that the blond took his purchase out of the bag and handed the bag to a coworker. Luckily, the coworker realized that the number wasn't for him and gave it to the blond. He called me a week later and said his name was Scott. We started dating and three months later moved in together. That was 13 1/2 years ago, and we're still happily in love.

Catherine Campbell Age: 18 Residence: Ottawa, Canada Occupation: Political science major at Ottawa University Identifies as: Lesbian Relationship status: Partnered 1 1/2 years

I've been with my girlfriend, Brigitte, for a year and a half now, and we met in an unlikely place: not at a gay bar or on the Internet but in mechanics class in high school. The first day of my second semester in 11th grade, I walked into that class and saw this stunning and somewhat mysterious girl sitting at a table, so I went over and sat beside her. I chatted her up, and little did I know that she was a lesbian. I had hoped it in my heart. She was gorgeous. I actually didn't do too well in that class--I was too busy talking to her and trying to impress her. We go to a public school, so we didn't have a problem being together. She is amazing in so many ways, and I'm so thankful I found her.