Martin Luther King, Jr. famously remarked, “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” It would be hard for anyone to deny the challenging times we all have faced of late, yet from a year of struggle for many has come great achievement for all. 2011 Brought our community the end of a decades-long discriminatory military policy, greater marriage equality recognition across the country and a louder, stronger, more visible presence worldwide. And many of the lgbt advancements this past year can be directly attributed to the 20 gentlemen we honor in instinct’s 2011 leading men issue. They shattered stereotypes, demanded action and attention and, in some cases, put their own safety at risk in the name of helping others. They now join the 145 past honorees over our previous seven years of recognizing leading men—proudly showing the world what character and virtues a true leading man embodies.