Ron and Apollo Network celebrated their birthdays on January 1, 2010. Ron turned 74, and Apollo became a teenager at 13, which in Internet years is equal to 74.

Excuse us for celebrating, but when a man passes his biblical allotted time of three score and ten years, and when a gay website for older men becomes the oldest and longest running of its type on line, some fireworks and confetti are in order.

Looking back, here are some observations and things we have learned in 13 years:

Positive:

• There are a lot of really good gay people all around the world.
• Gay people in any part of the world are the same as anywhere else, only their problems with laws and culture differ.
• There are a lot more older gay men than any statistical study has ever reveled.
• An incredible amount of our users have never participated in a gay event or had a drink in a gay bar.
• Over forty percent of our users are married, divorced, or widowers.
• Many younger men appreciate life with an older, mature man.
• Dozens have written that they found on Apollo the help to accept themselves as gay.
• Hundreds of people have written that Apollo was crucial in finding their life's mate.

Negative:

• There are still some gay men who have not set aside the stereotypical "Oh, Mary," effeminate mentality of the mid 20th Century.
• There are a few gay people, not many, who still confuse constructive criticism with just being a bitchy, mean queen.
• Most tragic of all, there are still gay people who feel guilty about being gay. They listen to outdated theories and philosophies. In every way they belong to the modern world but when it comes to being gay, they still believe in a flat earth.
• I get an occasional letter where the writer says that he is giving up being gay and returning to women for sex

I wish we could promise to be around for another thirteen years. If so there would a longer list on the plus side of our ledge, including legal gay marriage everywhere. Happy New Year! -Ron