2013: A Retrospect

From great accomplishments to disheartening setbacks and all the ups and downs in between, it has been quite a year for the LGBT community all over the world. Between disappointing and heartbreaking political decisions in Russia and Australia to an additional 9 states making same-sex marriage legal in the US, the year brought the good and the bad along with it.  

  

I thought it might be nice to take a look back at all that happened in 2013 so we can remember, reflect, and be ready for the new year. 

Here's to a final look back at 2013:

January - 

*Maryland begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

February – 

*Austria legalizes step-child adoptions for same-sex couples (meaning one's partner's biological child).

*Germany expands adoption for same-sex couples to include successive adoption (previously only step-children adoptions were allowed.

April - 

*The NBA's Jason Collins becomes the first active professional male athlete in North America to come out as gay.

*The National Assembly of France legalizes same-sex marriage and adoption.

May - 

*Civil unions are legalized in Colorado.

*The first anti-homophobic rally is held in Georgia despite heavy opposition.

*Evangelical Lutheran Church of America elects their first openly gay bishop, Guy Erwin, to the Southwest California Synod.

*Same-sex marriage is legalized in Brazil.

*Nigerian parliament bans same-sex marriage.

June - 

 *Exodus International, an organization devoted to the "re-orientation" of homosexual desires, shuts down after issuing a statement which repudiated its aims and apologizing for the harm their pursuit caused the LGBT community.

*The US Government deems Section 3 of DOMA unconstitutional (meaning same-sex marriages that are legal on state levels are recognized on a federal level), and dismisses California's Proposition 8 (making same-sex marriage legal again in California).

*Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, signs into law a bill banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors".

July - 

*Delaware legalizes same-sex marriage.

August - 

*Rhode Island legalizes same-sex marriage

*Minnesota legalizes same-sex marriage

*New Zealand legalizes same-sex marriage

*Uruguay legalizes same-sex marriage

*Some counties in New Mexico begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

*The WWE's Fred Rosser (Darren Young) comes out, making him the first ever openly gay pro wrestler.

September - 

*More counties in New Mexico begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples

October - 

*New Jersey legalizes same-sex marriage.

November - 

*Hawaii legalizes same-sex marriage.

*Illinois legalizes same-sex marriage.

December -

*Xavier Bettel is appointed prime minister of Luxembourg, making him the third head of government in the world to be LGBT, after Iceland's Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and Belgium's Elio Di Rupo.

*The Supreme Court of India overrules the Delhi Court in re-establishing section 377 of the Indian penal code, once again making homosexual activity illegal.

*The Supreme Court of Australia overrules the Australian Capital Territory's law allowing same-sex marriage making any same-sex marriage annulled.

*The Parliament of Uganda approves the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill making homosexuality punishable by death or life in prison.
*The ban on same-sex couples applying to adopt children is lifted in Northern Ireland.

*U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby ruled that Utah's ban on gay marriage violates the due process and equal protection under the 14th Amendment for gay and lesbian couples, making same-sex marriage legal in Utah.

*Same-sex marriage becomes legalized statewide in New Mexico. 

And just for a little fun :)  - Celebrities that came out in 2013: 

1. Robin Roberts
2. Tom Daley (bisexual)
3. Bob Harper
4. Wentworth Miller
5. Maria Bello
6. Fred Rosser (Darren Young)
7. Raven Symone
8. Jason Collins
9. Matt Dallas
10. Jodie Foster
11. Andrew Scott
12. Clive Davis
13. Michelle Rodriguez (bisexual)
14. Charice
15. Robbie Rogers
16. Ben Whishaw
17. Lucas Cruikshank
18. Jenna Wolfe
19. Maulik Pancholy
20. Brian Boitano
21. Tuc Watkins

Despite the setbacks and letdowns in some places, overall I feel 2013 was a fairly good year for the LGBT Community. Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of injustice and upsets, but for once it seems the amount of good that occurred for the community balanced out, or even outweighed, the bad.

2014 is beginning to give me hope  ;)

Happy New Year to you all. Thank you for all your support this last year! I hope this next year brings you all plenty of good and happy times.