The Big Gay Year In Review: What 2013 Was Like For The GLBT Community

 As the year comes to an end, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on the advances for GLBT rights that we saw in 2013 in my "Big Gay Year In Review" and to reflect on where we have to go in 2014. Let's start off with some great news, as eight states legalized gay marriage this year. Most recently, Utah, a state many thought would be the last to legalize gay marriage, legalized gay marriage last week. Additionally, The Supreme Court ruled this June that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, allowing the government to recognize gay and lesbian marriages on a federal level.

(Image Via www.webmastergrade.com)

   Meanwhile, we in the U.S. still have a ways to go as ENDA, which would prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace, still has not been passed into law. It's awkward to me how there's nearly as many states where you can be fired for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender than there are states that have gay marriage. Additionally, there have been several attacks on GLBT people from homophobic people, which proves to me that legalizing gay marriage is just a starting point in getting our rights. So, in 2014, it would be nice to see ENDA passed and a broad campaign that addressed how we need to end hate and hate crimes in this country.
    Over in Europe, the GLBT community there has had a mixed bag in 2013. The UK is scheduled to get gay marriage next year, but the biggest story to come from Europe is one that shows that we still have a long way to go in gaining equality. If you watch the news, you know that I'm talking about Russia, where the government passed a law barring gay propaganda. This, in turn, led to a surge in hate crimes and gay murders. Meanwhile, some around the world did not help the cause, as they supported the upcoming winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, a former gay mecca that has been decimated by the anti-gay laws passed in Russia. Hopefully, 2014 will see Russia's anti-gay laws come to an end.
     While, Russia may have digressed when it comes to gay rights, they aren't the only ones. India made headlines recently when the Supreme Court in that country as they made gay sex illegal, overturning a law that was passed in 2009. Politicians in that country have vowed to overturn the law, but who knows where that will turn out? Hopefully, we will see India's politicians do good and overturn the Supreme Court's ruling in the upcoming year.

(From www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com)

      This year has also been one of the best for gay visibility as many celebrities have come out of the closet. Notably, Olympian Tom Daley and NBA player Jason Collins, both made headlines when they came out as GLBT. Other prominent figures to come out as GLBT this past year are Chelsea Manning, Matt Dallas, Brian Boitano, and, most recently Robin Roberts. Hopefully, 2014 will see more celebrities coming out and representing as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender.
         So, there you have it folks, a brief synopsis of the big gay year that was 2013. As a community, I would say that we made tremendous strides, but that we have a far way to go. Who knows? Maybe when I do my 2014 year in review gay marriage will be legal nationwide. Even if it isn't though, it is these small steps that make big impacts on the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and there families. After all, I'm sure the folks at Stonewall had no clue the movement that they would create, and they would be pleasantly surprised to see where we are at today. So, to all of you out there, I wish you a great 2014 that is happy, healthy, and successful for you and yours, and here's to 2013, a year that brought so many momentous occasions for us to look back upon in joy as we enter a new year.