Washington state moved a step closer to recognising same-sex nuptials on Wednesday with the House of Representatives approving a bill to legalize gay marriage. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Valentine's Day.
A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down Proposition 8, a 2008 California law banning same-sex couples from marrying, saying it violated the constitutional principles of due process and equal protection under the law.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told an African Union summit in Addis Ababa on Sunday that regional leaders must ensure respect for gay rights, calling anti-gay sentiment a "form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned" by many African states.
In the last few years, South Africa has seen an unprecedented wave of sexual attacks on homosexual women. Some victims have decided to start talking about it, openly, in order to put a stop to it.
Mitt Romney's win in Iowa kicks off what is likely to be a long Republican campaign to choose their nominee for the 2012 US presidential election. Much of the coverage of the Republican candidates is critical: they emerge as "weirdos" in a cattle car. That's the focus for this look at the world papers, Wednesday 4th January 2011.
There’s anger in Haiti as locals say UN forces helping to rebuild the country after last year’s earthquake are actually doing more harm than good. Also, we meet a homeless young man who is fighting American authorities so he can live in his car. Finally, we head to Brazil for a special report on homophobia. Charities say discrimination is rife and some 200 homosexuals were killed last year alone.
Serbian gay rights activists and human rights organisation Amnesty International have roundly condemned the Serbian government for banning a gay pride parade in Belgrade. Last year's parade was followed by violent riots in the Serbian capital.
The US military celebrated a watershed moment early on Tuesday as the end to its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law came into effect. Some 14,000 personnel were expelled under the law, which banned gay troops from disclosing their sexuality.
Iran’s LGBT community launches an online campaign to defend gay rights. Web users in Texas are mobilizing online to fight the devastating wildfires sweeping through the state. And a herd of cows are treated to a private jazz concert.
MEDIAWATCH FRANCE, Thurs 4/8/2011: Who exactly is Bernard Tapie? We look at the man at the centre of the controversy surrounding Christine Lagarde. Also, lawyers dig for more witnesses to testify against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and the last "pink triangle" passes away in France.
