Why can a wifebeater get married and we can’t? Let’s go to his X-mas Party and find out! Also; pot psychology, health care, cover lies, vegetarian’s guide to surviving Christmas dinner, protesters at Ralph Lauren, facebook makes divorce happen, and LGBT summer camp!

GLEE’s got season two in the bag– now you’re the only thing they need. Also; Naomi & Emily take over mag-stands in the UK, more Real L Word buzz, the Arrested Development movie, Jane Lynch’s disappointment in Obama, Tila Tequila’s personality transformation, Calvin & Hobbes, Jon Stewart’s importance and Netflix maps blow our minds!

A new study shows that LGBT equality has been on the up-and-up for the last decade… except in school, where homophobia rages on. Vote for SheWired’s gay woman of the year. Also; teens love sexting, have sex before their parents talk to them about it, and get bad sex ed. Then we have a cute video with bells in it. So.

GOOD NEWS! Following a meeting with U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika pardoned the “gay” couple who had been sentenced to 14 years of jail and hard labor, announcing, “I have done this on humanitarian grounds but this does not mean that I support this.” Also,

In today’s news, Washington, D.C., may soon legalize gay marriage. DADT is sinking faster than Riese, Alex, and Jess’s hurricane-bound lesbian cruise ship! Unfortunately, The Man is still lurking around high schools, keeping girls from dancing together.

Our weekly tribute to how funny and smart all you commenters are! (Except the anti-equality gang from Election Day, no treats for you, go eat some shellfish.)

Has “Hey Did You See That Comment Friday?” become Meta? Included these week, several comments specifically chosen by other commenters. In the end, we all win!

Comedian, writer, and political activist Kate Clinton talks to Autostraddle about her new collection of essays, “I Told You So,” doing stand-up comedy around the U.S., gay republicans, her love for Julie Goldman, and why activism is so damn sexy.

What, you didn’t think the gift giving was over, did you? We spent the holiday week cozied-up and reading through every one of your (many, many!) awesome comments. You’ve been so good this year; we wish we could wrap you all in a big family group hug! But due to the physical limitations of the internet, we’re giving out comment awards instead.

Under Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill, gays face life imprisonment at a minimum and often execution and the public is required to report gays or go to jail. Who are the Americans supporting Uganda’s Museveni legislation of evil? We break it all down for you. Also; should we settle for civil unions, the implications of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, another teacher-student lesbian sex scandal and “Who Do We Have to Blow to Get Gay Marriage in New York”?

“Midlife lesbians” are apparently having a heyday — again! Queer activists are forcing Eminem to hate gay people a little less than he did before, Angelina kind of sort of maybe might have an open relationship, queer girls in sports lost a great advocate, and the state of religion in America. Also, pictures of Lady Gaga!

Mitrice Richardson went missing in September, but never got the attention granted to white, blonde, heterosexual children. But new clues bring new hope and the gay & lesbian community can help you guys! Plus lots of other headlines.

The American Family Association is being such a stage mom to Jesus and was boycotting the Gap for not using the word “Christmas” — we’ll tell you why that boycott is now on hold. Also, it’s boom time for unpaid interns, is Glee anti-Christian?, Sarah Palin gets PUNK’D, JCrew is weird and Australian senator compares homosexuality to incest. Again. Sigh.

The ex-gay movement and Pat Robertson’s religious righteousness army want you to think they’re going to be persecuted under the Hate Crimes Law (but they’re not). THAT’S GAY does ex-gays, Wanda Sykes gives her Obama eval and Argentina considers gay marriage.

We’ve read every single one of your comments, and Friday’s results are in! We think the vote is unanimous — Autostraddlers win at life. (Prizes may include: witty banter, street cred, sexual advances, and internet fame.)

Someone left a voicemail threatening to shoot a former anti-gay leader in Maine. The House health care bill actually includes several benefits for the gay community. Plus, Ellen graces the cover of O magazine.

Today is World AIDS Day. Find out how you can get involved and get the facts about the epidemic and how it effects women. Hillary Clinton speaks out against LGBT discrimination on World AIDS Day and we hope she’s talking about Uganda. Rachel Maddow DOES talk about Uganda, Queerty’s letting you vote on an LDS ad campaign, a California man is trying to ban divorce. And the Chinese government opens a gay bar.

Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize after only nine months in office, surprising everyone in the world including him. Lesbians suffer more under DADT, and the possibility of gay marriage in D.C & New Jersey.

How the totally false Lindsay Lohan HIV rumor got started and why everyone needs to give that girl a f*cking break. Also; a writer goes undercover at Christian Gay Conversion camp, The Boondocks premieres, THE MARBLE FAUN from Grey Gardens gets his own documentary (and he’s gay!), and the redheaded soldier from the GaGa in Afghanistan video has two mommies!

In 2009 Autostraddle was born. Just in time for the apocalypse! In this letter from the editor, you’ll find out what happened, what’s happening next, and how special everyone is.