2008 certainly had its ups and downs. The California Supreme Court in May handed down the ruling declaring the unconstitutionality of denying same-sex couples the right to marry, while voters six months later turned around and passed Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage. Connecticut however followed suit, extending the rights of marriage to same-sex couples. The economy took a nose dive with foreclosures at record highs and top corporations falling to their knees, but the climate helped Barack Obama win the presidency, encouraging many gays and lesbians to feel optimistic about 2009 and beyond. We polled some of this year’s top gay and gay-friendly newsmakers on their highlights and low-lights of 2008, and where they will be when the ball goes down. Here’s what they had to say.

Gay & Lesbian Times: What was your personal highlight of 2008?

Michael Lucas: Marrying my boyfriend Richard in California just before Proposition 8 passed.

GLT: What was your favorite news event of 2008?

ML: The scathing publicity around my first raunchy title, Farts.

GLT: How and where will you be celebrating the New Year this year?

ML: Honeymooning with my husband, as far away from the tourists in Times Square as possible.

GLT: Who will you give your first New Year’s kiss to?

ML: Richard.

GLT: What are you looking forward to in 2009?

ML: Lucas Entertainment’s 100th production will be released in April, and we’ve had an amazing response to Return to Fire Island, so we’ll shoot another film there in the summer. And, of course, I look forward to continuing to piss more people off in the new year.

Gay & Lesbian Times: What was your personal highlight of 2008?

DJ Tracy Young: I released a new album called Genesis.

GLT: What was your favorite news event of 2008?

DJ TY: Obama winning the election.

GLT: How and where will you be celebrating the New Year this year?

DJ TY: I will be celebrating New Years Day at my annual event called, Genesis. It’s the event my new album is based on. This is the sixth year we have done Genesis and it will be held at Mansion in Miami. I will be DJing all day with a special performance by Celeda.

GLT: Who will you give your first New Year’s kiss to?

DJ TY: My girlfriend, Dora.

GLT: What are you looking forward to in 2009?

DJ TY: I plan to work more on my TV and Film career and expand my record label.

Gay & Lesbian Times: What was your personal highlight of 2008?

Stephen Guarino: The best highlight I got was a light ashy blonde strip in the back of my hair, but I also had some cute reddish tints in the bangs so it’s a real toss-up which highlights are my favorite. All I know is that I paid way too much to have both done at Jean-Claude Beguine.

GLT: What was your favorite news event of 2008?

SG: There was a small blurb in Entertainment Weekly that I beat out Ms. Jay from “Top Model” for a role in Tyra Banks’s new straight-to-DVD movie, The Clique. That was pretty great news!

GLT: How and where will you be celebrating the New Year this year?

SG: I will most likely end up playing Rockband with some neighborhood friends, followed by a sloppy Manhunt hook-up with either a closeted Greek or a white chorus boy who is faking how butch he is.

GLT: Who will you give your first New Year’s kiss to?

SG: I literally just made out with Shia LaBeouf on my TV watching him in Disturbia, but on New Year’s I’ll most likely be making out with those mini-pizzas you get in a 4-pack from Trader Joes.

GLT: What are you looking forward to in 2009?

SG: The third season of Big Gay Sketch Show and the February premiere of my new movie I Hate Valentine’s Day, starring Rachel Dratch and Nia Vardalos. Plug, plug, plug!

Gay & Lesbian Times: What was your personal highlight of 2008?

Mike Ruiz: I bought a my new pad in New York’s Chelsea. It’s hot! Another highlight was working with Cheryl Tiegs. I love her!

GLT: What was your favorite news event of 2008?

MR: The election and its awesome outcome!

GLT: How and where will you be celebrating the New Year this year?

MR: Passed out in a pool of my own sick.

GLT: Who will you give your first New Year’s kiss to?

MR: Whoever is within 10 feet of me.

GLT: What are you looking forward to in 2009?

MR: Everything! Life has been one surprise after another for me so I can’t wait to see what the universe has in store for me in 2009.

Gay & Lesbian Times: What was your personal highlight of 2008?

Sylvia Tosun: I performed in front of 8,000 people at New York’s Gay Pride Pier Dance this year. It was a night I’ll never forget.

GLT: What was your favorite news event of 2008?

ST: Barack Obama winning the presidency. I love that man.

GLT: How and where will you be celebrating the New Year this year?

ST: I’ve been offered a gig in Malta. Details are being sorted out right now, so fingers are crossed that I’ll be ringing in the New Year there!

GLT: Who will you give your first New Year’s kiss to?

ST: My man, of course!

GLT: What are you looking forward to in 2009?

ST: I’ll be releasing a new full-length studio album this spring!

Gay & Lesbian Times: What was your personal highlight of 2008?

Albert and Robert: There were two. We filmed our very first adult film with OntheHUNT.com so that was cool. Then we appeared on E!’s “Chelsea Lately” as Manhunt’s new log-in models. That was fun too!

GLT: What was your favorite news event of 2008?

A and R: Obama’s landslide victory. We are both hopeful that the new administration will bring about the change they promised.

GLT: How and where will you be celebrating the New Year?

A and R: We’re crossing our fingers that we get to celebrate in Las Vegas but if not, then right here in Houston will be just as great as long as we are together.

GLT: Who will you give your first New Year’s kiss to?

A and R: The first sloppy kiss will go to one another!

GLT: What are you looking forward to in 2009?

A and R: We look forward to another productive and positive year. And we hope the economy turns around soon.

Gay & Lesbian Times: What was your personal highlight of 2008?

Adam Joseph: I played a show in my hometown of Cincinnati for over three people. It was off the hook.

GLT: What was your favorite news event of 2008?

AJ: Barack in the house!

GLT: How and where will you be celebrating the New Year this year?

AJ: In Miami with the fam.

GLT: Who will you give your first New Year’s kiss to?

AJ: Whoever will have me.

GLT: What are you looking forward to in 2009?

AJ: More music, shows, and fun!

Gay & Lesbian Times: What was your personal highlight of 2008?

DJ Hector Fonseca: I landed new residencies in six major world cities this year. I’m really excited!

GLT: What was your favorite news event of 2008?

DJ HF: Obama, Obama, Obama.

GLT: How and where will you be celebrating the New Year this year?

DJ HF: I will be headlining the Amore festival in Rome, Italy. I’ve been told they’re expecting over 30,000 people! I think this year is going to be the best New Year’s Eve ever for me.

GLT: Who will you give your first New Year’s kiss to?

DJ HF: I won’t know until I get to Rome.

GLT: What are you looking forward to in 2009?

DJ HF: Touring for my new compilation album, NY Club Anthems: Volume 3, in stores now!

GLT: What was your personal highlight of 2008?

Alek and Steph: We moved from Paris to the USA this year.

GLT: What was your favorite news event of 2008?

A and S: The crowds rallying after Proposition 8 passed. It was inspiring.

GLT: How and where will you be celebrating the New Year this year?

A and S: In our new home in Los Angeles!

GLT: Who will you give your first New Year’s kiss to?

A and S: The ground. We really fought hard to be in the USA.

GLT: What are you looking forward to in 2009?

A and S: We’re looking forward to expanding our online empire this year with new online fashion magazines, Bellomag.com and Adonismag.com.