2009 in Retrospect

What a year 2009 has been. The first African American President of the United States was sworn in, the first Hispanic Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court was confirmed, and three states and Washington D.C. decided to stop denying same sex couples their right to marry.

There were losses too, of course. Marriage equality suffered setbacks in California, New York and Maine and President Obama failed to live up to his campaign promises on the Defense of Marriage Act and on Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Adam Lambert, Jonathan Groff, Gavin Creel, Meredith Baxter, Kelly McGillis, and Wesley Eure all came out of the closet publicly this year, while Scott Evans was outed by his own brother Chris in The Advocate, not that he minded. Chris Colfer of Glee began his career this year as an openly gay actor. Am I forgetting anyone else?

We lost some amazing talent this year, from Bea Arthur to Natasha Richardson and John Updike to John Hughes, and an era ended in the United States Senate with the death of Ted Kennedy.

It was the year that was bookended by gay love scenes on soaps. In January, Nuke finally got to make love on As the World Turns after countless delays and while it was very exciting at the time, it still wasn't all it should have been as a payoff for fans of the couple. At the end of December,Kish fans were treated to the most incredible love scene between two men ever shown on American television, showing what a difference a year (and a different network, production company, and head writer!) can make.

Yes, it has been quite a year. Here are my picks for some of my favorite things of the year:

Favorite Classic Fiction Book I read this year: Orlando by Virginia Woolf

Favorite Modern Fiction Book I read this year: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

Favorite Non-Fiction (History) Book I read this year: And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts.

Favorite Non-Fiction (Literary) Book I read this year: A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel.

Favorite Short Story Collection I read this year: All five of Ethan Mordden's books in his Buddies series.

Favorite Film I saw this year: Adventureland

Favorite Gay themed film I saw this year: tie Make the Yuletide Gay and Were the World Mine

Favorite Hour long TV Show: Glee!

Favorite Half Hour long TV Show: How I Met Your Mother

Best Daytime Soap: One Life to Live

Favorite CD: Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment

New Guilty Pleasure Addiction of the year: American Idol Season 8 thanks to Adam Lambert

Favorite Gay Website of the year: AfterElton.com

Favorite Gay Character of the year (Daytime): Oliver Fish, One Life to Live

Favorite Gay Character of the year (Primetime): Kurt Hummel, Glee

Hottest Actor (Daytime): Scott Evans
Hottest Actor (Primetime): Jared Padalecki
Hottest Actor (Film): Ryan Reynolds
Hottest Athlete: Andy Roddick
Favorite Actress (Primetime): Kristin Chenoweth

Favorite Actress (Daytime): tie Erika Slezak, Florencia Lozano, Hillary B. Smith, Susan Haskell, and Robin Strasser, all of One Life to Live.

Best Day of the Year: The day I saw Rent performed live with Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal!

I hope 2010 is a wonderful year for all of you!