Church of Scotland to allow partnered gay and lesbian ministers
Ekklesia.co.uk, May 21, 2013
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland last night voted for a compromise resolution that could permit an individual Kirk Session to call a minister in a civil partnership if it chooses to do so - while maintaining as official policy a doctrine in relation to human sexuality that theoretically excludes partnered lesbian and gay people from ministry.

Gay and lesbian couples push for same-sex marriage in Venezuela
RawStory.com, May 20, 2013
Gays and lesbians demonstrated in Venezuela’s capital Saturday to push for an end to discrimination and for civil rights such as same-sex marriage.

Europe’s gay community ‘afraid’
IOL.co.za, May 17, 2013
Almost two-thirds of Europe's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are still afraid to show their sexuality in public and most feel discriminated against, an EU report said on Friday, the International Day Against Homophobia.

Ban Ki-Moon: LGBT equality is critical to the UN’s mission
PinkNews.co.uk, May 17, 2013
An International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia address by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, sets out LGBT rights as critical for building “a world of true freedom and equality for all.”

Brazilian judicial panel clears way for same-sex marriages
BuzzFeed.com, May 15, 2013
Same-sex couples could soon be able to marry throughout Brazil, following a national judicial panel’s decision that government offices could not deny same-sex couples’ marriage licenses.

Gay activists press for rights in China
Voice of America, May 14, 2013
While the United States Supreme Court considers whether gay men and women have the right to marry, debate on the issue also is growing in China. Gay rights activists in that nation increasingly are vocal about the right to marry and live free from discrimination.

Hong Kong trans woman wins right to marry boyfriend
PinkNews.co.uk, May 9, 2013
Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal has ruled in favour of a trans woman seeking the right to marry her boyfriend, ending her three-year-long legal battle and sparking a change in legislation that will affect the city’s trans community as a whole.

Homosexuals in Indonesian province face 100 lashes
Bangkok Post, May 9, 2013
Gay and lesbian people in the conservative Indonesian province of Aceh could be subjected to 100 public lashes with a rattan cane, under a bylaw proposed by the provincial capital’s deputy governor.

Gay political party hopes to represent LGBTs in Philippine Congress
ChannelNewsAsia.com, May 9, 2013
The Philippines will be holding its midterm elections next week. Aside from senators and congressmen, Filipinos will also be voting for party list representatives in Congress. They give voice to certain marginalised sectors. One of the parties is Ang Ladlad, a gay political party.

Lesbians legally married in Cambodia despite no law change
Gay Star News, April 7, 2013
Some lesbian women who have lived together for over ten years in some provinces in Cambodia could be the first legally recognized gay couples in Asia.

China’s gays and lesbians join the global debate on same-sex marriage
Time Magazine, May 2, 2013
n a country where homosexuality was illegal until just 16 years ago and classed as a mental illness until 2001, advocates for gay rights in China complain that attitudes toward their community are years behind those in Western countries. But like their counterparts everywhere, Chinese gays and lesbians are fired up by the growing global debate on same-sex marriage.

Three young men die at anti-gay 'conversion camp' in South Africa
Huffington Post, May 1, 2013
International lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights advocates are decrying the death of three teenage boys who were allegedly tortured to death at a so-called "conversion camp" in South Africa.

Raul Castro’s daughter granted U.S. travel rights to attend LGBT conference
PinkNews.co.uk, May 1, 2013
Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro, has been given the go-ahead to attend an LGBT conference in the US, where she will receive an award for her contributions to gay rights, after initially being barred from traveling within the US.

Brazilian priest excommunicated over church opposition to homosexuality
PinkNews.co.uk, April 30, 2013
A Catholic priest in Brazil has been excommunicated after he publicly resigned in protest against the church’s opposition to gay rights.

Thousands march in Tokyo in support of LGBT rights
PinkNews.co.uk, April 29, 2013
Thousands marched in Tokyo this weekend as Japan kicked off its first Rainbow Week, which aims to reach out to LGBT people in the country. Organizers of the parade estimated that 12,000 people took place in the parade on Sunday, the first in a week of events in a program which runs until 6 May.

Modern Singapore grapples with archaic sex law
Xinmsn.com, April 29, 2013
With its gay bars and same-sex couples publicly displaying affection, the Tanjong Pagar district offers a glimpse of a Singapore whose outlook contrasts with its more conservative image.

Vatican newspaper chides French president over equal marriage
PinkNews.co.uk, April 25, 2013
The Vatican’s semi-official newspaper has taken a swipe at French President Francois Hollande, claiming that he ignored the “many voices” of French people who opposed equal marriage. The Osservatore Romano on Wednesday published a piece which accused the French President of ignoring the wishes of French citizens, and causing divisions in French society.

Joy, anger as France legalizes same-sex marriage
ABC.net.au, April 24, 2013
The French parliament defied months of angry protests overnight as it approved a bill to make France the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage. The vote follows weeks of divisive debate in the French parliament, and mass street rallies by supporters and opponents of the move.

Police ready ahead of French vote on gay marriage
WMDT.com, April 24, 2013
Legions of officers and water cannon stood ready near France's National Assembly ahead of a final vote Tuesday to legalize same-sex marriage, as authorities braced for the potential for violence on an issue that has unexpectedly divided France and galvanized its faltering conservative movement.

Last-ditch protest in Paris against gay marriage law
Independent.co.uk, April 22, 2013
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Paris today in a final attempt to block a vote in parliament tomorrow that is set to legalise gay marriage.

French President condemns anti-gay attacks
PinkNews.co.uk, April 18, 2013
President Francois Hollande has condemned displays of homophobic violence in France, as the country looks set to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption rights for gay couples.

New Zealand legalizes same-sex marriage
Guardian.co.uk, April 17, 2013
New Zealand's parliament has voted in favour of allowing same-sex marriage, prompting cheers, applause and the singing of a traditional Maori celebratory song from the public gallery.

Archbishop of Paris warns that equal marriage will lead to a more violent society
PinkNews.co.uk, April 17, 2013
Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, the Archbishop of Paris, said to other bishops on Monday that the government’s plans to legalise equal marriage could be the final move towards inciting violence, and splitting society in France.

Pakistan: General election to see first transgender candidates run
PinkNews.co.uk, April 16, 2013
For the first time transgender people will be able to run for office in Pakistan’s general elections with their gender identity recognized, and, so far, two trans women have applied to stand for positions in their local constituencies.

In China, gay marriage gone wrong
The Economist, April 15, 2013
Tolerance is on the rise in major cities. Shanghai had its fourth Pride festival in June. Earlier this month the national ministry of health announced that lesbians will be permitted to donate blood. Yet intolerance still prevails. Homosexuality was only removed from the health ministry’s list of mental illnesses in 2001. In rural regions, the belief that homosexuality is a treatable disease is still widespread.

French Senate passes gay marriage bill
KXAN.com, April 12, 12013
The French Senate voted Friday to legalize same-sex marriage in France, putting a landmark bill on track to become law by summer. The vote in the upper house of Parliament — led by President Francois Hollande's Socialists — comes despite boisterous protests.

Uruguay legalizes gay marriage
Huffington Post, April 11, 2013
Uruguayan lawmakers voted Wednesday to legalize gay marriage, making the South American country the third in the Americas to do so. Supporters of the law, who had filled the public seats in the legislative building, erupted in celebration when the results were announced. The bill received the backing of 71 of the 92 members of the Chamber of Deputies present.

Same-sex marriage to be legal soon in France
EdgeEdge, April 11, 2013
Despite large protests against it, France appears poised to become the next nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

Porn downloaded on Vatican computers
New York Post, April 10, 2013
Thou shalt not steal porn off the Internet seems to be a commandment some residents of Vatican City choose to ignore. The tiny city-state within Rome that houses around 800 people doesn't exactly have the highest downloading levels in the world, but that hasn't stopped some of its residents from swiping files starring the likes of female porn stars Sheena Shaw, Lea Lexis and Krissy Lynn.

Iceland PM asked to meet with gay rights activists in Chinese visit
PinkNews.co.uk, April 10, 2013
celand’s prime minister has been asked to meet with the parents of gay children during her visit to China. Johanna Sigurdardottir, the world’s first openly gay prime minister, is due in the country next week.

Victory Fund joins partners, USAID to promote LGBT rights abroad
GayPolitics.com, April 10, 2013
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) today announced a new LGBT Global Development Partnership, a public-private partnership between the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute, the Williams Institute, and Olivia Companies, which further promotes foreign assistance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality in emerging markets and developing countries.

Putin faces protest furor in Europe
Korea Herald, April 9, 2013
Vladimir Putin faced hundreds of protesters ranging from gay rights activists to a topless feminist group during his visit to Germany and the Netherlands on Monday, but the Russian president appeared unruffled by the furor.

France: Same-sex marriage bill reaches Senate
PinkNews.co.uk, April 4, 2013
The French Senate will debate the country’s proposed same-sex marriage bill today. The lower house approved the legislation in February – with 329 Assembly Members voting in favour of the bill and 229 against – a majority of 100 votes.

Nepal: Climate of fear imperils LGBT people
Human Rights Watch, April 1, 2013
The government of Nepal should allow lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups to operate freely and end arbitrary arrests of LGBT people, Human Rights Watch said. The government should investigate threats and attacks against LGBT people. Widespread harassment, including by the government, has contributed to a climate of fear among LGBT people and activists in Nepal, and has interrupted vital activities, including HIV prevention work.

Mexico's young LGBT women take a stand at lesbian march
UPI.com, March 21, 2013
Young women accounted for the majority of participants in the sixth lesbian march in Mexico City last weekend. As many as 7,000 people attended this year’s gathering. Distinct from the festive annual gay pride march, this event enables lesbians to tackle political issues affecting them, such as violence against women.

Russia's foreign minister defends anti-gay bill
Vancouver Sun, March 21, 2013
Russia's foreign minister on Tuesday rejected criticism from the Dutch government and the European Union about proposed legislation that would outlaw "homosexual propaganda." Responding to Dutch assertions that the legislation may be contrary to Russia's international obligations, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there were no such obligations.

Pope Francis, a pastor for gay Catholics?
Religion News Service, March 20, 2013
Pope Francis supported civil unions as Archbishop. Will he bring this pragmatism to the global stage?

Argentine gays not thrilled with new pope
Wisconsin Gazette, March 19, 2013
While the appointment of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as pope has filled many in this deeply Catholic country with pride, members of the gay community in Argentina are unsurprisingly less than enthusiastic with the Vatican’s choice.

Pope Francis against gay marriage, gay adoption
Huffington Post, March 14, 2013
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a 76-year-old Argentinean, was chosen as the first Latin American pope on Wednesday. He will lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics as Pope Francis. While his selection may be historic, it may also mean more of the same when it comes to gay rights in the Catholic Church.

New Pope, Same as the Old Pope?
Gay.net, March 14, 2013
When it comes to LGBT issues, the selection of Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as the next pope makes it a case of "meet the new boss, same as the old boss." When his nation was debating marriage equality in 2010, he was a staunch opponent, calling it a “destructive attack on God’s plan.” The law passed nonetheless.

Iran, Russia, Vatican threaten to derail UN women's rights
Jerusalem Post, March 14, 2013
An "unholy alliance" of Iran, Russia, the Vatican and others is threatening to derail a UN declaration urging an end to violence against women and girls by objecting to language on sexual, reproductive and gay rights, some UN diplomats said Wednesday.

Cuba finds its footing on LGBT rights
By Sarah Stevens, Advocate.com, March 14, 2013
For decades, Fidel Castro led a nation that was often cruel to LGBT people. Now the island nation is turning the tide.

85 percent of Russians oppose marriage equality, 5 percent support eradication
Huffington Post, March 14, 2013
Anti-gay sentiment is apparently on the rise in Russia, with fewer citizens supporting gay rights than did nearly a decade ago.

Queen supports gay rights in the Commonwealth?
SDGLN.com, March 12, 2013
By signing the new Commonwealth Charter, with its rejection of all discrimination, the Queen has been seen by some people as implicitly endorsing gay human rights. They argue that although the charter does not include an explicit commitment to gay equality, the clause rejecting discrimination based on "other grounds" implicitly includes a rejection of homophobic discrimination. Maybe.

Mexico’s top court: Anti-gay terms are hate speech
Edge, March 8, 2013
Mexico’s Supreme Court has ruled that two anti-gay words commonly used in Mexico, "punal" and "maricon" are hate speech and not protected as freedom of expression under the country’s constitution, allowing those offended by them to sue for moral damages.