It will shortly be the 13th year of the new 2000 millennium, and there’s a lot to celebrate tonight, New Year’s Eve.

I won’t delve into the political realm, so let’s just be grateful for what we have in the United States of America, specifically in Tucson, and Southern Arizona.

Here’s my list of resolutions for the New Year:

– be more patient

– be kind

– be compassionate

I hope I have the patience (Resolution #1) to practice my resolutions beyond tomorrow, but I will try to be kind and compassionate (Resolutions # 2 and 3) to those I encounter in the new year.

And so we end the powerful Year of the Dragon and enter the enigmatic Year of the Snake. I have several “snakes” in my life — three friends and a niece, so it should be an interesting year.

Happy New Year to our readers and fellow bloggers at Tucsoncitizen.com! And if you’re wondering which were my top 5 stories of 2012, four of the five were election news: two on the General Election results (candidates and propositions), the Primary Election results, the list of who was running for 2012 Pima County offices, and only one non-political post about the Powerful Year of the Dragon.

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year in Hawaiian)!

21 year old University of Arizona political science student Daniel Hernandez Jr. is a gay “reluctant hero”, pictured on the February 2011 issue of ‘n touch, a LGBT news magazine published in Phoenix. This is their 79th issue covering current events and issues affecting the gay lesbian bi-sexual transgendered communities in Arizona.
Topic areas in the magazine cover Local News, Politics, Business, Feature Articles, Ethics, Pets, and Focus Tucson.

There’s an article on page 6 about Daniel, the brave intern of Congressmember Giffords’ office who courageously ran towards the shots on January 8, to assist Gabby. Apparently he cradled her head in his arms as he stopped the bleeding from her head wound, caused by gunfire from suspect Jared Lee Loughner. Daniel has been called a hero by many, and attended President Obama’s State of the Union address on January 25 in Washington, D.C. He also spoke at the Memorial service at the University of Arizona’s McKale Center on January 12. Daniel serves on the City of Tucson’s GLBT Commission and is LD 28 House Rep. Steve Farley‘s campaign manager.

Click here to read the online version of this issue.

Also in this issue is an update on Wingspan (on page 48) by Linda Thomas, program director. Wingspan LGBT advocacy center is mostly volunteer run now, and is located at 430 E. 7th Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues), phone 520-624-1779, www.wingspan.org. They recently held a senior forum hosted by Pima Council on Aging, to provide information specific to LBGT seniors & their partners.

Wingspan provides an array of social and community services including

* Information and Referral Services provides information about local community resources, groups, activities and events.
* Anti-Violence Project offers crisis intervention and support services to victims of violence and education to the community about these issues.
* Eon Youth Program provides emotional support, social and educational activities, substance abuse prevention, homeless services, and leadership training to youth ages 13-23.
* Health and Wellness provides outreach and information to community members on health disparities while training health providers on LGBT cultural competency issues.
* Senior Pride offers peer-support and social and recreational opportunities for LGBT seniors while also educating service providers about the specific needs of this population.
* Southern Arizona Gender Alliance offers information, support services and social opportunities for transgender people while educating businesses and health and human services providers about transgender issues.
* Advocacy and Public Policy engages the LGBT and allied community in grassroots, community-based social action while strengthening community coalitions and collaborations.
* Puertas Abiertas (Open Doors) provides social and outreach programming that promotes positive awareness for Latino LGBT people.
* Wingspan FilmFest shows high-quality LGBT-themed films representing the diversity of our community that otherwise would not be screened in Southern Arizona.
* Community Space including a free lending library, computer center, and meeting rooms.

Also on page 47 of this February issue are photos of Tucsonans at the Wingspan Night Thing Party on New Year’s Eve, 2010. I recognized Mayor Bob Walkup and his wife Beth, LD 29 Rep. Matt Heinz, Pima County deputy attorney Brad Holland, Southern Arizona Aids Foundation Executive Director Wendell Hicks, and lots of other revelers.

This magazine advertises itself as “Your LGBT News Authority”, and is complimentary on newstands in Tucson and across Arizona. For more information contact Editor/publisher Gina Read at info@ntouchaz.com.