Though filled with both triumph and heartbreak, 2009 is a year I’ll personally be glad to forget. But I’ll still raise a toast tonight in it’s honor, celebrating all the tremendous progress our community has made, while mindful of the painful setbacks we’ve suffered. And as I look forward to 2010, it will be with a renewed sense of optimism, hopeful that we will continue to make progress, that fewer rights will be denied, and less lives lost.

In that spirit we wish everyone a safe and prosperous New Year, full of joy and hope and a better future for us all.

Assisted by the vocal stylings of George Michael and the Muppets, Inside, Looking Out would like to extend everyone a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!

George Michael’s “December Song”

The Muppets “Ringing of the Bells”

Now it’s off to see Nine, Avatar or Up in the Air!

This Memorial day let’s take a moment to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Without their courage and valor we would most certainly not have the freedoms we enjoy today.

But for the LGBT servicemembers who also gave their lives, their service and sacrifice are seldom recognized in the context of who they were. Today I would like to extend a special tribute and thanks to them, for serving in a military and protecting a nation that would so often prefer they did not exist.

Last year I created the Worthy of Sacrifice Project to capture the stories of the LGBT servicemembers who served but never came home, as told by the families, friends and partners they left behind. It was my intention to document those stories ensure that those who served were never forgotten, and to show their sacrifice was no less worthy because of who they were and who they loved.

If you have a story to share, or know someone who does, please visit: WorthyofSacrifice.org

I’d like to take this time to wish all my readers a happy and prosperous Thanksgiving. I know we have a lot to be thankful for this year, our health, our families and friends, and honestly, employment, but for many these are difficult times. To them I wish the very best in the hope that better times are ahead.

While it is a joyful day, I’d be remiss not to acknowledge the horrible events and terrible loss of life in Mumbai, India over the last several hours. Our thoughts go out to them.

And finally, it was exactly 30 years ago today that Harvey Milk and George Moscone were assassinated by City Supervisor Dan White here in San Francisco. The anniversary of Harvey’s death is especially poignant due to the release of the film Milk yesterday. Please check it out over the long break. You won’t regret it.

Below is a NO on Prop 8 ad I somehow missed during the campaign. The audio is from one of Harvey Milk’s speeches. It’s pretty darn moving, and appropriate on this day of thanks, and much needed hope.