Illinois could become the tenth state to provide its same-sex couples equal access to marriage rights as soon as this month. But not if Cardinal Francis George has anything to do with it. 

It is being described as "a first" for ESPN, which aired a victory kiss on Sunday shared between the Pro Bowling Association finals winner and his husband. 

We may still be a bit fuzzy in the head from the final night of 2012, but we have no trouble remembering those who made last year one for the LGBT record books. Who will be on the right side of history and who will be in the wrong when texts recall the year that was 2012? Instinct's editorial team (Editor in Chief Mike Wood, Senior Editor Jeff Katz, Associate Web Editor Jonathan Higbee and Web Superstar Nigel Campbell) countdown the folks (and companies) that set the bar high for 2013. 

Officials in Portland, Maine are expecting large crowds tomorrow, the first day marriage certificates will be available for same-sex couples in the state. Portland is one of only a few communities in Maine that are extending Saturday office hours to accommodate the anticipated love fest. 

Late last week the LGBT community and allies got a holiday gift in the form of another GOP lawmaker signing on to support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. 

Pope Benedict has once again exploited a holiday meant to celebrate peace and the coming together of humanity to demonize a minority group. Check out the Pope's latest vitriolic battle in his war against the LGBT community after the jump.

As expected (and hoped), folks on the right side of history will push to extend marriage rights to same sex couples in Minnesota in 2013. The move comes after the landmark defeat of a constitutional ban on marriage equality at the November polls. Details on what to expect next after the jump!

Mega pastor Rick Warren was uncomfortable answering questions that will put him on the wrong side of history, but Chelsea Clinton pressed on in an interview for Rock Center. Find out what the pastor has to say about his current feelings for marriage equality after the jump. 

Much momentum has been gained for the marriage equality movement in Illinois this month, momentum that's taken even further by the formation of a new unified group of LGBT advocates and allies, Illinois Unites. The new group will play a key role in gaining support for marriage equality (likely to come up in a matter of weeks in the state legislature) and securing the passage of rights for same-sex couples in Illinois. Details follow.

Newt Gingrich is giving Mitt Romney a run for his Olympic gold in the cherished American political sport of flip-flopping. After years of being a vehement opponent of gays and marriage equality, the 2012 GOP presidential candidate has decided he now "accepts the reality of legalizing same-sex marriage."

Punk icon Henry Rollins is again trying to become the greatest straight ally the LGBT community has ever seen by penning one of the most insightful articles yet on gay rights and the mainstream. 

So, what does Henry have to say about waiting for the post-equality and post-Pride world?

Same-sex couples looking to tie the knot in Brazil can know do so in the largest city in the southern hemisphere, São Paulo. The state (which goes by the same name) surrounding the epicenter of Brazil's LGBT community has extended marriage rights to same-sex couples, and will provide licenses to out-of-state gay couples as well as foreign same-sex lovebirds.