Bing, the Microsoft-owned search engine, released an ad this week devoted entirely to "Heroic Women of 2013." LGBT women and their allies are abound in the video.
"To Diana Nyad who persevered," and "to Edith Windsor who won a victory for equality," says Bing, "honestly, we salute you. Be brave in 2014."
Diana has been a champion swimmer since the 1970's and, in 2013, broke world records by being the first person to successfully swim from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida without a shark cage to protect her. Edith, TIME Magazine's #3 Person of the Year, made an historic victory that was both personal and political when her suit against the federal government lead to legal recognition of the widow's marriage and the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Both women are openly gay.
And the icing on the cake? Bing's tribute to the heroines of 2013 features Sara Bareilles' song "Brave," which the singer/songwriter wrote in honor of her friend who struggled to come out as LGBT.
"We wanted to take a different approach to looking back on 2013 by celebrating a courageous group of women who have changed the world and shown us all what the human spirit can achieve," says Bing on a website devoted entirely to celebrating the women of 2013. Visit the site to learn more about women like Diana, Edith, Malala Yousafzai, Adrianne Haslet-Davis, Gabrielle Giffords, just to name a few.
Google released its own 2013 retrospective video recently that also celebrated LGBT figures like Cassidy Lynn Campbell and Jason Collins, and milestones like marriage equality.
You can watch Bing's inspiring video below, but clear some space first, because you'll probably be dancing by the end of it. And also maybe crying a little. Got the tissues and comfortable shoes? Okay, you can start the video:
I, for one, can't wait to see what 2014 has in store.