2013 was a year of contradictions as far as gay rights were concerned. At one end of the spectrum, Tom Daley added his name to the record-breaking list of celebrities who ‘came out’ in 2013 by confirming he was in a relationship with someone who “happens to be a guy”. At the other decidedly more sinister end, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is expected to place his signature on that country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill, first introduced in 2009. Despite such paradoxes, there is a general consensus within the global LGBT community that 2013 was a good year, if not the best so far. This in itself may be a problem. Looking ahead, it beggars even the most optimistic campaigner to welcome 2014 with open arms.

That same campaigner, however, has every reason to look back fondly on 2013. Great strides have been made in forcing LGBT issues into the public consciousness. 16 countries have now legislated for same-sex marriage on an equal footing with straight couples. England, Wales and Scotland are only three such jurisdictions to have made this historic transition towards non-discrimination and equality with Northern Ireland left, once again, as the poor relation. Nevertheless, this region, in its own way has made efforts in breaking down the barriers of bigotry and zealousness. The extension of adoption rights to gay and lesbian couples living in Northern Ireland has already succeeded in normalising same-sex parenting; and majority support among MLAs for a Sexual Orientation Strategy in this region can only further the aims of acceptance and equality that the gay community deserve. Politically and legally, discrimination and bigotry are on the back foot.

In other small yet significant ways, the struggle towards equality was made that little bit easier during 2013. By December, Tom Daley was only one of a number of high profile individuals (sharing company with Ke$ha, footballer Robbie Rogers and Scottish government minister Derek Mackay to name a few) to brave public opinion and risk their reputation in the name of sexual identity. This certainly gave LGBTs, young and old, the confidence to step out of the closet themselves and proved to others, still hidden, that they should accept nothing less than acceptance itself. From this angle, it is easy to resort to the logic that these successes, global and personal, can only grow; that they are merely the bedrock on which future milestones can be set. Although I wish for nothing more than heaped successes during 2014, there is no room for complacency.

We only have to look ahead to February and set our sights on Sochi in Russia, to understand the challenge posed by 2014. Despite recent attempts by President Putin to appease the West through token gestures, with anti-gay propaganda laws still firmly in place Russia will remain a cold house for its own LGBT citizens and the global community that stands with them. The brutal scenes in which neo-Nazi or far-right groups torture and kill selected gay men and lesbians in Russia will continue to afflict our TV and computer screens this year. Russian officials are unlikely to reside from their staunch denial of their own citizens’ human rights and, if the international response so far is anything to go by, they will remain unchallenged before, during and after the Winter Olympics. Add to this the UK government’s rejection of the European Court of Human Rights, whose purpose it is to safeguard European citizens from abuses of this kind, and Putin would have no problem rejecting it as well. Although British LGBTs have little to fear from such action by Cameron’s government, Russian LGBTs certainly do.

The debate that rages over Russia is part of a wider issue. It is the threat of countries mainly in the East and in Africa (although Northern Irish individuals are also guilty) seeking to define gay issues as a question of morals and not of rights. Western democracies use the language of “rights”, “fairness” and “equality” when addressing gay rights. Iran, Zimbabwe and Russia talk of “tradition” and “religion” not to mention “unnatural” and “disease”. This is a problem that cannot be solved overnight given the increasing stakehold such countries and continents have in the world. In any event, it should not be the intention of campaigners to destroy religion or tradition within such societies. Instead, the desire must be to break down prejudice, make the case for human dignity and even to show that tradition and religion can reinforce human rights as well as diminish them. The decision of the Indian Supreme Court to re-criminalise gay sex will hopefully reignite debate in the subcontinent. Debate is what needs to happen in every corner of the globe that continues to render LGBTs second class citizens.

Closer to home, there are fears that the publicity created by the same-sex marriage debate in the UK will evaporate as people begin to believe that everything is settled. If only it were so. There has been no attempt by the Education Secretary, Michael Gove (or Stormont Minister, John O’Dowd) to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. Teachers, parents and children all require support when it comes to such behaviour and dealing with its aftermath. In some cases, the consequences can be fatal as teenagers struggle to be themselves in the face of sometimes relentless pressure. Sadly, 2014 will be witness to more silent suicides by gay sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. It is crucial that the important milestones of 2013 are not lost on LGBT youth and that the government acts quickly upon such successes.

I have shown why the gay community can be proud of 2013 and I hope I can say the same in twelve months’ time. The question posed by the title is by no means defeatist. My comments are simply grounded in a fear that if we, as a global community, are not moving forward on LGBT rights, we are moving backwards. Every point not argued and prejudice unchallenged is a missed opportunity in moving towards full equality. I list the achievements of 2013 to show the huge changes that momentum and people power can bring about. They give us hope and inspiration to continue with that momentum in this new year and beyond.