-Without a doubt, the Best Movie of the Year was Milk with an outstanding performance by Sean Penn. This entertaining film will not only be an Oscar nominee but also will mark a milestone in the LGBT community and Hollywood by actually winning it.

-How can we not acknowledge the election of Senator Barack Obama as one of the Best Elections of Our Lifetime? The dynamic duo of David Alexrod and David Poulffe has to be the Best Political Couple of the Year.

-Best Courage of 2008 has to go to Senator Edward Kennedy who has given new definition to the word courage.

-In this election year, Nate Silver of fivethirtyeight.com had us tuning in every day in suspense to see if Obama was still the frontrunner. He was reassuring and enlightening and in a crowded field, ran the Best Blog of the Year.

-Although it wasn't released this year, the Best Book of 2008 has to be Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals which has guided the Obama transition. This is a book that has made a real difference.

-The Empire State Pride Agenda has established itself as the Best Run Grassroots Organization in the country under the direction of Best Young Leader - Alan van Capelle.

-Take yourself to South Africa to find the Best Resort in the World at the Singita Resorts. The Castleton Lodge in Singita is the Best Travel Bargain in Africa.

-If you want to be the best informed person on your block just read the Best Magazine, The Economist, from cover to cover and you will sound like a scholar!

-Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero continues to amaze us with his progressive agenda and uncompromising principles and is the Best International Leader for this year.

-She is only in her first two years and already Missouri's Senator Claire McCaskill is proving to be the Best New Leader in American Politics. She was an early power in the Obama campaign and has been vaulted to national leadership.

-Neil Giuliano is clearly the Best Leader of a National Organization making the tough decisions when they had to be made within GLAAD while taking it to a new level. In addition, when much ado is being made how none of the LGBT leaders contributed much to the No on 8 campaign, Neil contributed a total of $6,000 of his personal money. Bravo Neil.

-One has to go to Chicago to catch the Best New Musical with MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET. The show provides amazing performances while totally entertaining at audience. Isn't that what musicals are supposed to do? Best Play would have to be Tracy Letts' rollicking Pulitizer Prize-winning masterpiece AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY on Broadway now starring the indomitable Estelle Parsons as the matriarch of the most blazingly dysfunctional family you will ever see!

-The Best Performer of the Year has to be will.i.am. for his bringing music back into politics where it has been gone far too long! His original "Yes We Can" gave birth to numerous music videos on youtube.com that inspired millions not only to vote, but also to volunteer for Obama.

-Best Member of Congress has to be Congressman Barney Frank as Chairman of the Banking Committee. He asked the banks, the automobile and oil companies all the right questions.

-You had to love Donna Brazile as Best Political Commentator on Television. She had her own unique style and resisted the temptation to become the female version of any number of male commentators. Keith Olbermann of MSNBC runs a close second, especially with his fiery Special Comments. And keep your eye on up-and-coming Rachel Maddow.

-Tune in on Tuesday evenings for the new powerhouse night on television capped by the Best New Television Series - The Mentalist. Simon Baker just constantly makes us want more of the show.

-My dear friend Bob Shrum has made the Best Transition from Politics to Media this year. He was calm, insightful and brought years of experience to help us through this crazy political year.

-Best News of the Year was to hear that President-elect Obama was going to close Guantanamo and stop torture of prisoners by the United States.

-Best Election Result Other Than President of the United States would have to be State Senator Kay Hagen defeating incumbent United States Senator Elizabeth Dole!

-Best Celebrity has to go to Actor Ben Affleck for his repeated trips to the Congo in an effort to ease the pain of that great nation.

-When it comes to Best Political Speech in the year of Barack Obama, the choices are endless. Do you pick the Convention speech or the speech in Grant Park on Election? Actually the speech I think will be remembered most by history will be his brilliant Speech on Race in Philadelphia.

-Best Photography of 2008 has to go to our own Jonathan Stoller. Throughout 2008, time and time again, he has given us astounding photographs from his private collection. Thanks, Jonathan.

-Best Human Rights Struggle of the Year has to go to all those millions of people who fought for marriage equality in the United and they will keep on fighting!