As many recent newspaper editorials have pointed out, this decade ain’t over yet. I think maybe that’s one reason this January feels more like 2009 Part II than a brand spanking New Year. Another may be that so many of the main issues last year (war, economy, human rights initiatives, and celebrity crises) went unresolved or were resolved in such an underwhelming manner that we don’t know where to go from here. I guess the only way to go is forward, so here’s a little of what is going on locally.

As we are getting ready to say goodbye to 2009, we find a prime opportunity to look back at the year’s events.  January started out very hopeful with the inauguration of a president who seemed to finally respect human rights.  Although there is much criticism bandied about on President Obama’s actions towards LGBT rights, there is no disputing the historic nature of a president who not only mentions LGBT concerns on a regular basis, but who also has held (and will likely continue to hold) meetings and events that include LGBT activists in the national conversation.