It’s hard to imagine there is news beyond the tanking economy, the historic presidential election and Paris Hilton (never mind that all three converged for a very surreal YouTube moment this year).

San Diego had its own election drama in the months before Nov. 4: comedy, tragedy and history played out.

Republican Carl DeMaio made history by becoming the first openly-gay man to be elected to the San Diego City Council, while two prominent Democrats slugged it out in District 3. For all the drama and mudslinging that accompanied the District 3 race, there was some comedy, too. Candidate John Hartley was arrested for peeing in a cup in his truck, though some residents alleged the former councilman was masturbating in between canvassing neighborhoods. Ultimately, Gloria triumphed and became the second openly gay man and the first Filipino man elected to the council.

While history was made in local and national politics, the notions of history and tradition were balked at in our annual Pride parade. San Diego LGBT Pride moved Dykes on Bikes from their traditional lead of the Pride Parade to fourth in the line-up, a decision that resulted in a roaring protest from many lesbians and their supporters in the community.

There certainly is no hell on wheels like Dykes on Bikes, and the Gay & Lesbian Times’ and our editorial column became a battleground of opposing views.

We also saw courtroom drama play out as four firefighters finally had their day in court. Their lawsuit claiming they faced sexual harassment during the 2007 Pride Parade dominated headlines until the case hit a brick wall; a judge declared a mistrial in the case, and a retrial is pending.

The case was former City Attorney Michael Aguirre’s last major fight. Aguirre was voted out of office and Republican Jan Goldsmith moved in.

The biggest news of the year: The California Supreme Court’s May decision to allow same-sex couples to marry – based on the 1968 Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court decision allowing inter-racial marriage – began the Civil Rights movement of the new millennium.

California’s decision prompted Proposition 8, which had massive local financial support from “Papa” Doug Manchester, owner of the Manchester Grand Hyatt and other properties, and A-1 Storage’s Terry Caster, to name a few.

In contrast to the half-hearted fight led by the No on 8 campaign, led in large part by out-of-state Mormon money and seven out of 10 black voters, Yes on 8 mobilized 52 percent of voters to pass Proposition 8, thus defining marriage in California as a union between a man and a woman, and writing hate into the state Constitution.

Billed as Stonewall 2.0, the ensuing marches throughout the state and across the nation erupted immediately.

With hope given and taken away, the GLBT community united as never before, along with our straight allies; as many as 25,000 San Diegans marched through the streets of Hillcrest and into Downtown as a river of peaceful protests flooded the grounds of the County Administration Building, where thousands of same-sex couples had been granted their marriage licenses and allowed to marry for a short period of time in 2008.

Still, using children, faith, and fear, the folks at the Yes on 8 campaign had more of an impact – for better or worse – on your life this year than any individual, and last week, we named them our 2008 People of the Year.

As this issue pays homage and bids farewell to 2008, we look to 2009 with new hope; though we don’t expect to see an end to our economic crisis soon, we have great expectations for our new president, and for our battle for full equality.

This week, California Attorney General Jerry Brown is asking the California Supreme Court to overturn Proposition 8 – which would be another monumental win for our community.

We hope to continue to be the place you turn to for the facts – in 2009 we may just be able to report that Proposition 8 was overturned and fairness won!