I thought we were going to win the right to marry state by state, but perhaps it will actually happen city by city. After all, the same-sex marriage movement really got momentum when Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco legalized it there, back in 2004.

Last week Washington, DC legalized same-sex marriage and now yesterday, Mexico City is the latest city to declare that gay and lesbian couples will be treated equally in all matters of city government. Mexico City also granted gay and lesbian couples equal access to adoption.

More about gay and lesbian life in Mexico City.

_{Photo of Mexico City by © Peter Adams/Getty Images}

Today is the first day of winter, but it feels like winter settled in a long time ago. If I could afford it, I'd pack my girlfriend up and take her someplace tropical and romantic. But, just because the weather is frightful, doesn't mean we can't make time for romance. Instead, I've come up with some ideas for romantic winter dates for lesbians.

Just because we're crunched for cash, doesn't mean we can't have a good time. Here are my ideas for dating on a budget.

What about you? Do you have a winter date tip to share with the rest of us?

_{© Chris Cummings}

I thought this sign, "You're Making Ellen Sad" was hysterical when I saw it. Although it didn't make the list of the Top 40 Funny Protest Signs of 2009, it would have been on my list. Well, I guess that photo was taken in 2008, at the Prop 8 protests, so it couldn't have made the list anyway.

But we gays do have a good sense of humor. That's why so many of the signs on this list are from the LGBT community.

_{© Justin Sullivan/Getty Images}

I've been so impressed with Ellen DeGeneres. More and more, I think she's seeing what a difference she can make in the world. I think one of the reasons her show is so popular, besides her dead-on sense of humor, is that she is a genuinely caring person who understands that she can make the world a better place.

She's been taking a stand about things that matter to her, like animal welfare and Prop 8. Now Ellen is speaking out about the dire situation for gays and lesbians and their supporters in Uganda. She released the following statement on her website:

I'm so thankful for the freedoms that we have in this country; the freedom of speech, the freedom to vote and the freedom to love who we want.

And I want to say that what's happening in Uganda makes me incredibly sad. There's an "Anti-Gay Bill" that's proposing to jail homosexuals. They are trying to give life sentences to same-sex couples, and the bill even proposes that they jail anyone who fails to report "gay activity" to the police within 24 hours.

This is a horrible violation of human rights and I can't believe something like this is being discussed in this day and age.

I think we should be grateful for our freedoms this holiday season. Be thankful for the people who fight for them. And let's continue to be an example to the world through our love and compassion.

If you haven't already, please join the world-wide protest of this scary proposed law by signing an online petition.

_{© Frederick M. Brown}