Australia is first to recognise 'non-specified' gender
Australia may have made gender history this week, as the New South Wales government lays claim to being the first in the world to recognise an individual’s sex as officially “not specified”.
Northern Ireland pair guilty of homophobic murder
Two men have been found guilty of the homophobic murder of a gay Northern Ireland shop worker. Lithuanians Andrius Dunauskas, 23, and Raminas Balseris, 26, were found guilty today of the murder of openly gay Shaun Fitzpatrick, 32.
Complaint over charity's gay-only job advert
A Devon gay charity has defended its decision to bar straight people from applying for jobs. The Intercom Trust, which serves people across the south-west, said that it needed staff who had experience of being gay, lesbian or bisexual.
US school cancels prom over lesbian student's date
A Mississippi school has cancelled its prom rather than allow a lesbian student to wear a tuxedo and arrive with her date.
Gay activists shouted 'you're one of us' at Roy Ashburn in 2005
California senator Roy Ashburn was heckled in 2005 at an anti-gay marriage rally by gay campaigners who knew he was in the closet. They shouted: "We know you're one of us, Roy!"
Cuba pays for gender reassignment surgery
Cuba has begun paying for trans men and women to have gender reassignment surgery. Mariela Castro, the daughter of President Raul Castro and niece of former leader Fidel, confirmed to reporters yesterday that the country began paying for the procedures in 2008.
'Limbs in the Loch' killer loses appeal
A gay man who murdered a teenager and dismembered his body has lost an appeal to clear his name. William Beggs, 46, became known as the 'Limbs in the Loch' killer for the murder of 18 year-old Tesco worker Barry Wallace in December 1999.
DC gay couples begin marrying today
The first gay couples to marry in Washington DC held their ceremonies today. They were able to apply for marriage licences last Wednesday and, due to a mandatory waiting period, the first ceremonies were set to take place today.
Harriet Harman could ban prostitute adverts
Escort adverts in magazines and newspapers could be banned if Labour wins the general election. The party is putting forward a new law in its election manifesto which could impose a £10,000 fine for those who fail to comply.
Christian registrar Lillian Ladele refused leave to appeal to Supreme Court
A Christian registrar who was disciplined because she would not officiate civil partnerships has been refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Scottish Lib Dems call for gay marriage
The Lib Dem Scottish spring conference passed a motion yesterday calling on the Scottish government to legalise gay marriage.
Lord Alli attacks bishops for 'misleading public' over religious civil partnerships
Out gay peer Lord Waheed Alli has accused bishops of misleading church leaders and the public over plans to allow gay couples to have their civil partnerships in church.
US senators call to end gay blood ban
Seventeen Democrat senators and one independent have called to end America's ban on gay men donating blood. The 1983 rule is "outdated, medically and scientifically unsound", they argued in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration yesterday.
Gibraltar court to rule on gay age of consent
Gibraltar's Supreme Court is to rule on whether the unequal age of consent for gays violates constitutional law. The British territory has an age of consent of 16 for heterosexuals and lesbians but 18 for gay men, which contravenes European human rights law.
Government could reject religious civil partnerships amendment
Equalities minister Harriet Harman could remove an Equality Bill amendment allowing civil partnerships in church over fears it could raise problems in the marriage system.
From the Blog