My dear friends, I had my very first column published on the Huffington Post’s Gay Voices site yesterday. I’m quite excited about it.

As some of you may know, I have a wonderful girlfriend named Anne whom I’ve been with for 10 months and who I’m madly in love with. Unfortunately, when my dear grandmother found out I had a girlfriend and not a boyfriend, she didn’t talk to me for a few months. It wasn’t a happy time, but I learned a lot about myself and, strangely enough, a lot about how much I want the right to get married one day.

This article is my reflection on what it meant for me to come out to my grandmother and, likewise, how her reaction showed me that marriage equality is really a crucial step in our fight for complete equality. The reason my grandmother was so angry was not because of the nature of my dating a girl, but because she was so upset that I could never get married and have a “normal” life.

One day I want to prove to her that she’s wrong. I will get married, I will be very happy, and honestly, whose life is “normal” anyway? As cliched as it is, I put my heart and soul into this piece. I’d love for you to read it and give me any feedback you have.

Just a reminder: 

GayWrites will be offline in a couple of days (I’ll let you know the exact dates soon) to boot up the newly redesigned site. If you want to stay up-to-date with LGBT news, media and culture coverage during that time, make sure to follow GayWrites on Facebook and Twitter! 

Also remember to get your sweet new GayWrites stickers here! They look like this: 

Support the blog with a sticker (or ten)! They’re $2 apiece plus $1 for shipping. :) 

Single or taken, 

Queer, gay or straight,

I love you just as you are, ‘cause you’re great. 

…

In which I awkwardly try to write poetry. No matter who you are, who you’re with or not with, and what you’re into or not into, you are a beautiful person and there are people out there who care about you. Have a great day!

To reiterate yesterday’s mega-huge announcement:

GayWrites is getting an entire redesign AND launching as a nonprofit to help students start gay-straight alliances! These are extremely exciting but very expensive ventures - support the cause by buying a GayWrites sticker like the one above! 

Stickers are 3 inches by 3 inches and cost $2 apiece plus $1 for shipping. All proceeds help fund the redesign and the fees associated with incorporating as a not-for-profit organization. Please help if you can! 

Hi, friends:

I’ve been hinting at big news for GayWrites for a couple weeks now, and it’s finally time to reveal what I’ve been working on. 

First: the site is getting a redesign. Starting in a few weeks, GayWrites will have a whole new look. You’ll get the same coverage of LGBT news and media, but in a cleaner, cooler layout that’s 100% GayWrites! The site will have to go down for a couple of days (in a month or so) when the change does happen, but don’t worry - I’ll be updating the GayWrites Facebook and Twitter with the news from those couple of days! 

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly: GayWrites is becoming a nonprofit organization. Over the next few months, I’ll be incorporating as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with a mission of helping teenagers start gay-straight alliances at their schools. It’s a cause I’m extremely passionate about and, as many of you have taught me, something that’s direly needed.

Here’s where you come in: this stuff is really expensive. I’m a college student, like many of you, and I’m paying for much of this out of pocket until I get on my feet with sponsorships. But the great part is that if you love GayWrites as much as I do, you can help!

I’m selling GayWrites stickers for $2 apiece (plus $1 shipping) starting today. They’re 3 inches by 3 inches, great for laptops, and look like this:

The link to buy is here and also embedded in the information at the top of the blog screen. Stickers purchased through Thursdays at midnight CST will be mailed every Friday, so you can expect to get them within a week to 10 days of ordering (a bit longer for non-US orders).

All the profits for these will go to the site redesign and the fees associated with incorporating as a nonprofit, and if there’s any money left over, it’ll start up the fund to help start GSAs! If you don’t want a sticker but you’d still like to donate, just send money over to gaywritesblog@gmail.com via PayPal. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: thank you all so much for your support in this venture. This blog is as much yours as it is mine, and I wouldn’t be here without you. I love each and every one of you. We’re making progress, one day at a time.

Much love,

Camille

TIME.com is working on a guide to the best Tumblrs and taking suggestions for reader picks. If you like GayWrites (spoiler: GayWrites really likes you), click on the link above and reply to their post with my URL! (Another spoiler: it’s gaywrites.tumblr.com.)

And even if you don’t, GayWrites still really likes you. There are HUGE announcements about the future of this blog coming in the next few weeks, so stay tuned! 

If you could buy this sticker for a couple bucks knowing your money would help GayWrites continue to exist, would you?

Friends, 

It’s been a great year of blogging the LGBT world and I look forward to what 2012 will bring our community. It’s getting better every day! 

May tonight be full of laughter and good company for all of you. Each and every one of you means something to me, and you all have made this an exceptional year for me, for your families and friends, and for yourselves. You are important, and don’t you ever forget it.

On that note, please be safe tonight. If you don’t have a designated driver and need a ride, AAA’s Tipsy Tow service will get you and your car home for free, even if you aren’t a member. Call them at 1-800-222-4537 (1-800-AAA-Help) between 6pm tonight and 6am tomorrow for a ride. (Get more information about it here.) 

We’re in for an incredible year, friends, certainly one filled with highs and lows. But no matter what happens, we’re in it together. Here’s to 2012!

With love,

Camille/GayWrites 

To all my followers celebrating Christmas today, I wish you a day of joy, peace and love. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, may the generally cheery holiday season give you a reason to smile. 

The year is drawing to an end, so don’t forget to check back for a recap of some of the year’s most important events in LGBT news. Look for shorter blurbs throughout the week and a full recap (to the best of my ability) on December 31st. 

Holidays are about resolving differences and being together, no matter what you celebrate or believe in. Let love be your light this season - it’ll always get you through.