150 Game Changing Wins that Made 2012 the Gayest Year Ever

A remarkably short four decades ago, the Stonewall Revolt of 1969 opened the flood gates for LGBT rights. The closet, so sturdy for so long, started being swept away in a rush of pride. Still, LGBT Americans lived in a culture of "tolerance," a popular euphemism for enduring.

There have been momentous years since then — both Barney Frank's 1987 coming out and the 2003 Supreme Court ruling overturning anti-sodomy laws come to mind — but when we look back in twenty years time or ten or even five, 2012 will be remembered as quantum leap for LGBT rights in the United States of America. It's the year that equality went from being a far-off dream to becoming an inevitable, immutable and irreversible reality. Even Newt Gingrich agrees!

This was the year of equality, the year the American dream came into sharper focus and the nation crossed from begrudgingly tolerating gays, and sometimes even acknowledging their relationships, to demanding our inclusion in the greater American family. Coming out is for the large part no longer a big deal, which is a big deal in and of itself.

There have never been as many out and proud elected officials; never before has Wall Street embraced us with such force; never before have so many conservatives admitted they need to shift gears on marriage equality and embrace change. This was a year of "never before" and "never again."

AFTER THE JUMP, 150 reasons why 2012 was a year of permanence for LGBT Americans, a year that the next wave of rights began its swoop across the purple mountain majesty and above the fruited plain.

And for more of our 2012 Year in Review, be sure to read "I'm Gay: 50 Most Powerful Comings Outs of 2012" HERE.

News: Richard Hanna, Mandela, Omega, Uruguay

Glee and American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy and photographer husband David Miller received a very special Christmas gift: a baby boy.

88-year old President George HW Bush remains hospitalized with a high fever after being checked in with a "bronchitis-like cough" before Christmas.

94-year old former South African President Nelson Mandela has been released from the hospital following his own health scare.

  Uruguay's Senate has postponed their marriage equality vote until April.

Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi like long, kiss-filled strolls on the beach in St. Barts.

"White Christmas."

Jay Leno throws a snowball at Chick-fil-A.

Here is the first song ever recorded in space.

After previously balking at the suggestion, Democratic NJ Assemblyman Reed Gusciora now says he wants to put marriage equality to a popular vote.

US Rep. Richard Hanna, a Tea Party backed Republican from New York, today announced that he opposes DOMA. "The simple fact remains that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure all legally married couples are treated equally under federal law," he said. Hanna is only the second sitting GOP congressperson to say DOMA needs to be repealed. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was the first.

Biogen, a drug manufacturer that specializes in multiple sclerosis treatments, will "gross up" pay to make up the difference for gay and lesbian married couples who suffer financial punishment under DOMA, the government's refusal to recognize same-sex marriage.

British High Court judge Sir Paul Coleridge blasted Prime Minister David Cameron for pursuing marriage equality, something he calls a distraction that only impacts ".1%" of the population. "[Gay marriage] is a minority issue. We need a much more focused position by the Government on the importance of marriage," said Coleridge, who created his own non-profit to fight divorce.

Meanwhile, Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps defended the Tories' equality push. Though some critics want to see a ban on fox hunting pass first, Shapps says they simply don't have the votes in Parliament; marriage is a much easier win, he said: "It makes sense to bring something forward if you think there's a chance of there being a parliamentary majority and at the moment there doesn't appear to be one... There probably is a parliamentary majority for gay marriage."

Say so long to Dan Stevens on Downton Abbey.

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka spent hours putting together a lovely train set for their son but he ended up just wanting to play with the broom. At least he's putting himself to good use, right?

Les Misérables did big business on Christmas: about $18 million opening day and number one at the box office.

DC gay bar Omega Nightclub had its last call.

Charlotte LGBT Chorus Sings 'God Bless You Chick-Fil-A:' VIDEO

The Charlotte LGBT Chorus puts a little holiday cheer into their gay pride. Or is it gay pride into their holiday cheer?

Either way, check out "God Bless You Chick-Fil-A" as sung by the Charlotte LGBT Chorus AFTER THE JUMP.

NJ College President Must Decide On Chick-Fil-A Ban

Fast food franchise Chick-fil-A continues to feel ramifications from CEO president Dan Cathy's comments about gay people and the company's support for anti-gay groups like Family Research Council.

Shore News Today reports that Herman J. Saatkamp, president of Richard Stockton College in Galloway, New Jersey, will soon decide whether or not to evict Chick-fil-A's campus outpost after the student senate approved the measure.

The Student Senate wants Saatkamp to ask Chick-fil-A to leave campus.

The Senate voted 14-10, with two abstentions, to send a letter of resolution Monday, Nov. 26.

Saatkamp will have to decide if he wants to consider trying to break a 10-year contract with the chicken franchise that has been dealing with controversy since comments were made by its Chief Operating Officer Dan Cathy last summer opposing same-sex marriage.

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Members of the Stockton Pride Alliance, which represents the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, have attended the Senate’s last two meetings to express concerns about being discriminated against and saying the perceived discrimination was encouraged by Chick-fil-A’s presence.

A campus survey, meanwhile, found that 66% of Stockton students want the restaurant to stick around.

Meet the Chick-fil-A Superfans Who Fly to Restaurant Openings: VIDEO

More than 100 people camped overnight in Walnut Creek, California for the opening of a Chick-fil-A, including one superfan (below) who said it was the 27th time she'd traveled to the opening of a hate chikin shop.

Watch the insanity, AFTER THE JUMP...

Meanwhile, a small group of protesters showed up to try and counteract the mania:

Brent Allen already had a line out the door - more than 100 people camped overnight in a parking lot in Walnut Creek for his chicken sandwiches - so he just had to wonder how many protesters would show up Thursday.

Allen, the owner-operator of the first Chick-fil-A in the central Bay Area, was greeted by about a dozen sidewalk protesters who were angered by the fast-food chain CEO's opposition to same-sex marriage.

"I don't feel like they're here for me," said Allen, who delivered boxes of bottled water to picketers. "My sole goal is to run a business and serve delicious food. I'm here to treat and serve everyone with dignity and respect."

Chick-fil-A-Eating Jacksonville City Councilman Don Redman Hates Gays, Can't Spell: VIDEO

An email sent earlier this month to constituent Pete Hull by Jacksonville City Councilman Don Redman in response to criticism of his "no" vote on expanding the city's anti-discrimination policies to cover gays and lesbians is getting some attention.

Hull, 31, said in an Oct. 4 email to all council members that the vote wrongly injected religion into public policy and hurts the city’s ability to attract new business. Redman emailed a reply on the same day with a few misspellings.

“You sound like a misguided & miserable individule [sic], who needs our prayers,” Redman wrote. “I pray that god will speak to your heart & show you the truthes [sic] of his word.”

Hull had written his letter to Redman after reading an editorial in the Times Union:

On Aug. 15, the City Council voted 10-9 against a version of a bill that would have extended legal protection to gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations in Jacksonville.

Redman was up-front about his opposition to the bill, saying it is “contrary to the Bible.” During a council meeting, he asked a lesbian supporter of the bill during a committee meeting, “Do you consider yourself male or female.”

Some of you may recall Redman from last August, when the Chick-fil-A nonsense was at its height. He gave up 35 years of vegetarianism so he could enjoy some hate chikin.

Watch him bite into it, AFTER THE JUMP...