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Happy New Year everyone!

I hope that your holidays were festive, and that the New Year has gotten off to a good start. I just got back from Europe and enjoyed the well-needed vacation.

I always look at New Year’s as a starting point. Every year on January 1, we are given the opportunity to kick the old one away and begin all over again with a new set of days, weeks and months to make memories, make mistakes, and live life. This year, we watched the clock move ahead to 2010, marking a decade since we entered the 2000’s. I can remember when everyone was afraid the world would end or all the computers would crash in 2000, and then nothing happened… Just a new year to begin fresh.

At the start of a new year, there are always things that I consider revising in my life – a little bit like resolutions. This year is like every other, of course. There are things in my life that I would like to change, but more so there are things that I would like to do and see change.

Let me explain. While I was in Europe, I went out almost every night with cousins and friends, we went to bars, cafés, pubs and night clubs. It has been a few years since I have been in Europe so I was a bit surprised, but also delighted to see lesbian and gay couples out in the open. It seemed that last time I was there, many lesbians and gays were still hiding in the closet, or only seen in the bigger cities. Well no more! I ran into lesbians at just about every club I was in, and I was even more surprised to see that most of the lesbians there were on the femme side! So there I was in Europe, surrounded by women that want women, and look like WOMEN!! Let’s just say I was excited, I believe I even made a tipsy phone call to the states to tell my best friend of my find.

Another big difference that I saw while I was away is that everyone there seems to hang out in the same clubs, bars, pubs and cafés. There are not as many separate places for different types of people. The lesbians, gays and straight people all went to the same nightclubs to enjoy a night of dancing. I know that here everyone goes everywhere too, however, we also have many separate establishments that are geared towards a certain crowd.

Don’t me wrong. There are definitely different types of people at each of the establishments there too, but as far as sexual preference goes, everyone hangs out together. I really enjoyed experiencing that mixture of people, and would love to see more of that here. Considering the fact that most of the time I frequent more “mainstream” establishments than the local lesbian and gay ones. It would definitely make meeting girls easier if we all mingled together a little more.

Another change that I would like to see happen in this country for 2010, is the legalization of gay and lesbian marriage. I know that there are a handful of states where it is legal, but I feel that as a country we need to have the freedom to live like everyone else everywhere! I was shocked to learn that over half of the European nations allow gay marriage, and allow the same benefits to gay couples as straight couples. If countries that are so set in tradition and religion can move ahead with progressive views, then I think it is beyond time that the U.S. keeps up.

I am glad to be back home, and excited to take this year by storm. My calendar seems to be getting filled in quickly, and one of the first events takes place this Friday at Gallery 5 here in Richmond, located at 200 W. Marshall Street. It is a gallery opening for “Love and Hate”, an art show that features the triumphs and struggles of homosexuals in the LGBT community. I hope to see some of you out on the town, and wish you a good first weekend in the year!

Lucy Lipstick blogs about her experiences from a lesbian perspective every Friday on GayRVA.