Portal:LGBTQ/Current events/Archive

This is an archive of all news items that have been included in the LGBTQ portal.

2010

• 17 May 2010 − Same-sex marriage in Portugal − President Aníbal Cavaco Silva ratifies same-sex marriage legislation in Portugal, making it the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex marriages.

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• 29 April 2010 − Recognition of same-sex unions in Hawaii − The Hawaii State Legislature passed the Civil Unions Bill (Hawaii House Bill 444) in a last hour vote before adjourning for the 2010 Legislative Session. The vote was 31-20.

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• 14 March 2010 - LGBT rights in Mexico - Judith Vazquez and Lol Kin Castaneda become the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Mexico City after legislation allowing for same-sex marriage passes.

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• 13 March 2010 - LGBT rights in Australia - New South Wales makes gender history by becoming the first place in the world to recognise 'non-specified' genders.

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• 15 February 2010 - France becomes the first country in the world to declassify transgenderism as a mental illness.

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• 1 February 2010 - LGBT rights in Fiji - Fiji decriminalizes male homosexuality and sodomy.

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• 11 January 2010 - Perry v. Schwarzenegger, a case which will decide whether California's 2008 proposition that banned same-sex marriage violated the Equal Protection Clause of the federal constitution, begins in San Francisco.

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• 8 January 2010 - LGBT rights in Portugal - Portugal's parliament votes to allow same-sex marriage, making it the 6th European country to allow it. The law is expected to come into effect sometime in April.

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• 7 January 2010 - A bill which would have allowed same-sex marriage in the U.S state of New Jersey fails. 14 voted for the bill, and 20 voted against it.

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• 1 January 2010 - LGBT rights in Austria - In Austria, same-sex couples are granted registered partnerships.

2009

• 22 December 2009 - LGBT rights in Uganda - In the ongoing debate regarding Uganda and the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill (which would see the death penalty introduced to homosexuals), President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, says he may veto it. The bill has gained wide-spread media attention, as well as being massively condemned by the European Parliament, France, the USA, numerous other countries and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

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• 21 December 2009 - In an unexpected move Mexico City's Legislative Assembly legalizes same-sex marriage. (BBC)

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• 16 December 2009 - The extreme-right group British National Front is accused of placing homophobic stickers around the Canal Street area of Manchester.

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• 15 December 2009 - LGBT rights in Sweden - According to the National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden, the permanent ban on blood donation for gay men will be removed from March 1, 2010. Men who have sex with men will be allowed to donate blood, but only if they have been sexually inactive in the past year. This as the cases of HIV among gay Swedes have been raised, but slightly been fewer in 2009.

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• 13 December 2009 - Democrat Annise Parker is elected Mayor of Houston, Texas, making it the largest US city to elect an openly gay mayor. (BBC)

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• 01 December 2009 - LGBT rights in Europe, The Treaty of Lisbon come into effect with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. In Article 21 of the Charta, sexual orientation is protected.

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• 04 November 2009 - Voters of Maine repeal a law that would allow couples gay marriage. The result comes in at a close for-against result of 47.2 and 52.9 respectively. In state Washington voters say yes to allow couples civil unions.

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• 28 October 2009 - U.S. President Barack Obama signs into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, effectively enacting the Matthew Shepard Act and extending existing hate crime penalties of violent criminals who are expressly and demonstrably motivated by their victim's perceived sexual orientation or gender.

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• 28 October 2009 - LGBT rights in Germany - Openly gay politician Guido Westerwelle becomes Foreign Minister of Germany.

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• 22 October 2009 - LGBT rights in Sweden - The assembly of the Church of Sweden, which is dominated by Protestants, voted strongly in favour with 70% of the votes, of giving its blessing to homosexual couples,., including the use of the term marriage. The new law will be introduced on November 1, 2009. This happened after the Parliament of Sweden in 2009 introduced anti-discrimination laws on transgender identity or expression and voted to make same-sex marriages fully legal from May 1, 2009, with the votes 261 to 22. The assembly's verdict in the Church of Sweden is the first case in the world where a recognized church is willing to support same sex marriages.

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• 20 October 2009 - Recognition of same-sex unions in Jersey - A vote in the state of Jersey confirms that civil partnerships will come into effect immediately. The vote came in at a yes/no result of 48 to 5 respectively.

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• 20 October 2009 - Former Miss California Carrie Prejean (who publicly spoke out against same-sex marriage at a beauty contest and then numerous times on mainstream media} is sued for the price of her breast implants which were part of a contract Prejan signed when she took up the role - the costs estimated at $5,200 USD.

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• 19 October 2009 - LGBT rights in Canada - The Canadian city of Toronto is chosen to host World Pride in 2014.

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• 19 October 2009 - The UK Press Complaints Commission estimates that the complaints about a Jan Moir article in the Daily Mail concerning Stephen Gately have reached over 21,000. Scotland Yard announce that they too are investigating a complaint from a member of the public.

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• 16 October 2009 - The UK Press Complaints Commission's website crashes after receiving hundreds of complaints about a Jan Moir article in the Daily Mail concerning her views on the death of Irish Boyzone member Stephen Gately. Retailer Marks & Spencer withdraws advertising and Nestlé disassociates itself from her writing.

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• 11 October 2009 - Thousands of activists for marched on from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that President Obama keep his promises to allow gays to serve openly in the military and work to end discrimination against gays. Notable figures Lady Gaga, Cynthia Nixon, Cleve Jones, Judy Shepard and Dustin Lance Black also make speeches regarding equality.

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• 10 October 2009 - U.S President Barack Obama speaks at a dinner hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, explaining that he is moving forward with plans to repeal the Don't ask, don't tell policy, as well as the Defense of Marriage Act (which stops same-sex marriages being recognised on a federal level).

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• 07 October 2009 - Microsoft Corporation makes a $100,000 (£62,976) donation to gay rights campaigners in Washington. The donation is in support of a referendum on whether gay couples should be given expanded rights under domestic partnerships law.

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• 1 October 2009 - LGBT rights in the United States - Civil partnerships come into effect in Nevada. With over 700 gay couples who registered their relationship beforehand, the passed law coming into effect allows them to be legally recognised.

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• 18 September 2009 - The European Union votes to adopt a resolution criticising a recent law passed by Lithuania which prohibits any mention of homosexuality in schools or in media accessible by young people.

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• 17 September 2009 — LGBT rights in Lithuania — Lithuania passes a law which bans the mention of homosexuality in schools or media, which is generally considered similar to Section 28

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• 10 September 2009 - Openly gay illusionist Derren Brown correctly predicts the National lottery numbers on live television.

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• 10 September 2009 - A bill allowing gay couples in Uruguay to adopt has been approved by the country's Senate as expected.

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• 08 September 2009 - The city of Springfield, in the US state of Missouri, removes a law which discriminates gays and lesbians from its ordinances. The 1976 law made it illegal to solicit sex from someone of the same gender.

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• 01 September 2009 - The legalisation of gay marriage in Vermont takes effect at midnight local time. Vermont joins New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa to become the fifth American state to officially legalise gay marriage.

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• 29 August 2009 — LGBT rights in the UK — Legislation granting lesbians equal birth rights in England and Wales comes into effect, meaning both parents can now be named on a child's birth certificate.

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• 28 August 2009 — LGBT rights in Uruguay — The Congress in Uruguay (pictured to the right) passes a bill allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt children. The legislation is expected to pass in the Senate, where the ruling party has a majority. If passed, Uruguay will be the first country in South America to allow same-sex couples to adopt.

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• 25 August 2009 — The Equality and Human Rights Commission issues county court proceedings against the British National Party because of its constitution and homophobic, racist membership criteria. Such criteria is contrary to the Race Relations Act which the party is legally obliged to comply with.

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• 24 August 2009 — Ireland's Green Party and gay rights organisations defend plans to introduce civil partnerships for same-sex couples following criticism of the move by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

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• 20 August 2009 — LGBT rights in New Zealand — A bill to abolish the gay panic defence passes its first reading in New Zealand's parliament.

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• 13 August 2009 - A San Francisco streetcar dedicated to gay rights campaigner Harvey Milk is taken out of service after vandals daubed homophobic graffiti on it.

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• 09 August 2009 — LGBT rights in Ireland — In Ireland (pictured within Europe to the right), a same-sex marriage demonstration occurs outside the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in Dublin. Ireland currently has no same-sex marriage, civil union or other form of legal contract for same-sex couples, and such couples cannot jointly adopt children.

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• 08 August 2009 - LGBT rights in Israel - Fifty thousand demonstrators or more gathered in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square Saturday night in a rally to show solidarity with Israel's gay community, including the victims shot at a TA center for gay and lesbian youth a week ago, which left two dead and a dozen wounded.

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• 01 August 2009 - LGBT rights in Israel - At least two people are killed and 15 others injured in a shooting attack at the Gay and Lesbian Association building in Tel Aviv, Israel. The shootings have resulted in a manhunt by the Israli police and protests by the gay community.

• 24 August 2009 — Ireland's Green Party and gay rights organisations defend plans to introduce civil partnerships for same-sex couples following criticism of the move by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

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• 20 August 2009 — LGBT rights in New Zealand — A bill to abolish the gay panic defence passes its first reading in New Zealand's parliament.

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• 13 August 2009 - A San Francisco streetcar dedicated to gay rights campaigner Harvey Milk is taken out of service after vandals daubed homophobic graffiti on it.

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• 09 August 2009 — LGBT rights in Ireland — In Ireland (pictured within Europe to the right), a same-sex marriage demonstration occurs outside the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in Dublin. Ireland currently has no same-sex marriage, civil union or other form of legal contract for same-sex couples, and such couples cannot jointly adopt children.

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• 08 August 2009 - LGBT rights in Israel - Fifty thousand demonstrators or more gathered in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square Saturday night in a rally to show solidarity with Israel's gay community, including the victims shot at a TA center for gay and lesbian youth a week ago, which left two dead and a dozen wounded.

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• 01 August 2009 - LGBT rights in Israel - At least two people are killed and 15 others injured in a shooting attack at the Gay and Lesbian Association building in Tel Aviv, Israel. The shootings have resulted in a manhunt by the Israli police and protests by the gay community.

• 02 July 2009 - India decriminalizes homosexual intercourse in a historic movement. The ban on homosexual sex is ruled unconstitutional by Delhi High Court and the law read down.

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• 01 July 2009 — Recognition of same-sex unions in Hungary: Civil unions start in Hungary.

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• 24 June 2009 - Open gay politician Frédéric Mitterrand becomes French Minister of Culture and Communication.

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• 22 April 2009 — LGBT rights in Burundi — Homosexuality recriminalized in African country of Burundi (pictured). Though Burundi's senate had rejected the proposed amendment, the country's lower house overrode the senate, restoring the amendment which was then signed into law by president Pierre Nkurunziza.

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• 07 April 2009 — Same-sex marriage in Vermont — The Vermont state legislature overrode the veto of Gov. Jim Douglas to legalize same-sex marriage. Vermont is now the fourth U.S. state in which same-sex couples can legally marry.

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• 03 April 2009 — Same-sex marriage in Iowa — Iowa becomes the third state in the United States and first midwest state to legalize same-sex marriage.

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• 01 April 2009 — Same-sex marriage in Sweden — Sweden pass the law on making marriage gender neutral. Up to this day, there has been different laws on homo- and hetero couples. From now on, same-sex marriage has the same legal status as opposite-sex marriages.

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• 18 March 2009 — LGBT rights in Denmark — The parliament of Denmark allows jointly adoptions for homosexual couples. In Europe seven countries allow adoptions: Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In Germany and France only stepchild adoption is allowed.

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Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

• 1 February 2009 — Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir (pictured) became first female prime minister of Iceland, and first openly gay head of government in the modern era.

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• 22 January 2009 — LGBT rights in Turkey — Turkey's supreme court overturned the previous shutdown of an LGBT rights group

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• 9 January 2009 — LGBT rights in Senegal — Nine men sentenced to eight years imprisonment in Senegal for "unnatural acts" and "criminal conspiracy".

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• 1 January 2009 — Same-sex marriage in Norway began.

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2008

• 18 December 2008 — The UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity, a European Union initiative pushing for worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality, was introduced at the United Nations. (more at Queer.de (German), The Advocate)

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• 22 November 2008 — LGBT rights in Burundi — Lower house of Burundi's (pictured) parliament passes law to criminalize homosexuality. (more at Pink News)

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• 5 November 2008 — Voters in U.S. state of California pass Proposition 8, overturning a recent state Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples who had married or planned to marry, the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the county of Santa Clara joined together the following day in a series of three lawsuits against the proposition.

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• 10 October 2008 — U.S. state of Connecticut's Supreme Court rules that civil marriage rights must be extended to same-sex couples in the state. (more at Lesbian.at)

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• 5 September 2008 — LGBT rights in Australia — Australia introduces federal-level same-sex law reforms to parliament. (more at LGBT Law Blog)

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• 15 July 2008: U.S. state of Massachusetts' senate voted Tuesday to repeal a law used to bar out-of-state gay couples from marrying in the state. The 1913 law was originally intended to prevent out-of-state interracial couples from marrying in the state, if doing so would be illegal in their home state. (more at MSNBC)

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• 11 June 2008: A bill to allow Same-sex marriage in Norway passes parliament. (more at Pinknews)

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• 31 May 2008: In an anglican church of Church of England in London a gay couple in a civil union was blessed by english, anglican priest.

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• 15 May 2008: The Supreme Court of California strikes down state laws allowing marriage only to occur between a man and a woman, making it possible for California to become the second state in the United States (after Massachusetts) to legalize same-sex marriage.

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• 14 March 2008: A bill to allow registered partnerships passes parliament in the Australian state of Victoria.

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• 7 March 2008: A study by the German executive over LGBT parenting has first good results for LGBT parents.

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• 18 February 2008: German catholic archbishop Robert Zollitsch accepts civil unions for gay couples

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• 16 January 2008: LGBT rights groups express concern that violence against gays is spinning out of control in Sydney, Australia.

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• 16 January 2008: Morocco imprisons 6 for allegedly taking part in a gay wedding.

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• 16 January 2008: Cameroon sentences 3 men to 6 month's hard labor for alleged homosexuality.

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• 10 January 2008: Despite a mandate from the British government to strengthen school policies protecting LGBT students, a student committed suicide in reaction to homophobic taunts from classmates.

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• 10 January 2008: Rev. Ken Hutcherson and other conservative religious leaders have formed a corporation to organize a shareholder revolt against what they call Microsoft's funding of the gay agenda.

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• 3 January 2008: The Australian federal government has stated it will not attempt to block legislation providing for civil unions in its territories. It is anticipated that the first civil unions will take place in June of 2008.

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• 3 January 2008: Cameron Mathison, star of the daytime drama All My Children, puts himself up for auction to raise money in the fight against AIDS.

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• 3 January 2008: The New Jersey senate strengthens its hate crimes laws, adding "gender identity or expression" to its existing hate crimes legislation.

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• 2 January 2008: The Iraqi government, in deliberating the conditions of an amnesty for prisoners, announces that they will exclude homosexuals and terrorists from those prisoners eligible for amnesty.

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Sir Elton John

• 2 January 2008: Sir Elton John comes under fire for a scheduled concert in the United Arab Emirates, due to its poor record on gay rights protection. (see LGBT rights in the United Arab Emirates).

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• 1 January 2008: The Pope attacks same-sex marriage for the second time in 3 days, calling it a "threat to the very foundation of peace". See the full article.

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• 1 January 2008: New Hampshire legalizes civil unions, and the first unions are registered. See Civil unions in New Hampshire

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• 1 January 2008: Queen Elizabeth II makes Ian McKellen a Companion of Honour, one of only 65.

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• 1 January 2008: Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori says the Episcopal church is being unfairly attacked for its honesty in appointing gay clergy.

2007

March 2007

Marine Gen. Peter Pace

13 March

According to senior aides, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, will not apologize for declaring in a newspaper interview that he consider homosexuality to immoral and that the US military should not condone immoral conduct by allowing gay men and women to serve openly.

11 March

Thousands of protesters gathered in central Rome to show their support for government proposals to grant rights to gay couples. The bill was approved by Italy's cabinet last week but faces a tough battle through the Italian Parliament.

5 March

The first US soldier to be injured in the present Iraq conflict, Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, has come out and announced his opposition to the US armed forces' "Don't ask don't tell" policy on homosexuality.

Anne Coulter

2 March

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter uses the slur faggot to refer to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. Since that time she has been publicly denounced by three leading Republican candidates and her column has been dropped by at least three newspapers.

February 2007

27 February

Google have defended their removal of the homophobic blog "killbattyman" from their blogger.com service for breach of their terms and conditions. The blog contained many offensive images and comments and called for the executions of all LGBT people.

16 February

According to a recent poll, 80% of Italians support proposed legislation that will grant property and inheritance rights to registered same-sex cohabitees despite Vatican opposition to the laws.

8 February

The Highest Court in Colombia decided that those who have been in same-sex partnerships for at least two years have the right to inherit property.

January 2007

30 January

United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that the Sexual Orientation Regulations, which will protect LGBT people against discrimination when accessing goods and services, will apply to Catholic adoption agencies despite threats from the Catholic church that such agencies would close rather than have to place children with gay couples.

25 January

A member of French President Jacques Chirac's party has been fined almost $4,000 under a French hate speech laws that make it illegal to publicly disparage gays.

Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ, President of Nigeria

19 January

New laws expected to be passed shortly in Nigeria are being described as the worst crackdown on gay and lesbian rights since the Iranian revolution. The laws will prohibit all affirmation and celebration of gay identity, including providing advice and welfare support to gays and lesbians.

14 January

A court in Rutland, Vermont has ordered that a woman pay child support to her former lesbian lover, who has since renounced her homosexuality, as part of the dissolution of their civil union.

9 January

The United Kingdom House of Lords votes 199 to 68 in favour of the Sexual Orientation Regulations, which will protect LGBT people against discrimination when accessing goods and services.

7 January

Archbishop Rowan Williams admits he fears he is losing control of the Anglican Church in its battle over gay clergy.

Alan Cumming gets married/civilly partnered to his boyfriend of two years Grant Shaffer.

3 January

In Ticino, Switzerland first gay couple gets civil union.

Former Steps member and current Celebrity Big Brother housemate Ian Watkins comes out as gay in The Sun.

2006

November 2006

24 November

Northern Ireland is to implement Sexual Orientation Regulations early in the New Year, banning inequality in the provision of goods and services to LGBT people.

22 November

Israel's Supreme Court recognizes foreign same-sex marriages.

15 November

South Africa is to legalize same-sex marriage in 2007.

3 November

How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris comes out as a "content gay man".

October 2006

25 October

New Jersey's State Supreme Court says gay couples have same rights as heterosexual couples.