Here are some of the photo highlights.

Updated benefits, announced internally by company officials cover gender transitioning procedures and treatments in accordance with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s (WPATH) Standards of Care.

Google spokesman Jordan Newman told The Advocate that: “As the WPATH Standards of Care are considered the highest standards of care for transgender individuals, we agreed to cover the full range of procedures under WPATH”.

The company has also doubled the maximum dollar amount for transgender health care benefits from $35,000 to $75,000.

Last year, Google executives announced they would start paying gay and lesbian workers at a higher rate, in order to compensate them from unequal tax laws.

Federal laws that do not recognise gay relationships mean same-sex couples must pay an additional tax when their partners receive domestic healthcare benefits.

Earlier this week, the Trevor Project, which campaigns against homophobic bullying, awarded Google a prize for the way it’s has championed LGBT equality in the corporate sector, over the past decade.

Yolanda Mangolini, Director of Global Diversity & Inclusion and Talent & Outreach Programs at Google Inc, spoke of her gratitude at receiving the award and said it was an “honour”.

Director of the National HIV/AIDS Programme, Dr. Perry Gomez, was responding to comments made by the Baptist Bishop Simeon Hall.

In a statement, last week, he declared that homosexuality is “anti-family” and also a “deadly practice”.

Hall made the comments after the island’s Nassau Guardian newspaper reported that gay and bisexual men, account for 14 per cent of all HIV infections in the country’s population.

According to a UN study, the figure has nearly doubled since 2008.

Dr. Gomez, who was speaking at the close of the island’s 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference, said that the Bishop’s comments were not helpful, but added if: “you live in a free society […] you have to go with the flow.

“The issue with MSMs [is] that they are a very private group.

“It has been difficult in getting information from that group of people over the years and part of the issue is stigma and discrimination”.

In June of this year, the Bahamas Government expressed support for a UN Human Rights Council resolution promoting equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation.

However, same-sex marriages and civil unions remain illegal on the island.

The “Power Talking” classes will take place in 11 cities across the UK early next year.

Matthew Hodson, Head of Programmes at GMFA, said: “not everyone has the confidence to ask for what they want, and many people struggle to say no, for fear of giving offence.

“Often these difficulties are exacerbated when it comes to sex. Good communication skills can have a huge impact on our lives”.

Hodson added, “lacking the confidence to say ‘no’ to the sex we don’t want can lead to men putting themselves or their sexual partners at risk.

“This course gives men the skills to voice their needs and desires in all areas of their lives.”

The courses are taking place throughout February 2012 in London, Brighton, Bristol, Birmingham, Exeter, Leicester Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Southampton.

Those who wish to attend need to be free on two consecutive Saturdays between 10:30am to 5:30pm.

The ‘Power Talking’ initiative started this year through the CHAPS HIV prevention partnership.

Hundreds of gay and bisexual men have already taken part in the workshops.

The project is being supported by The Terrence Higgins Trust, The Eddystone Trust, Healthy Gay Nottingham and the Lesbian and Gay Foundation.

GMFA is also raising awareness of next month’s World AIDS Day.

The official launch of its campaign for the event kicks off at London’s Shadow Lounge bar on Wednesday 23rd November.

Its described as an evening of cabaret and entertainment along with a celebrity auction.

The star has been single for several years and has blamed “stupid” rumours for putting off potential boyfriends.

Appearing on The View, she said: “People keep saying I’m gay but I’m not.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve never been with a girl! I don’t take any notice of that now and neither do my friends and family. It’s just stupid.”

Clarkson added: “I’ve dated some cool guys. I’ve never met anyone who I’m like, ‘I could spend the rest of my life with you.

“I’m from a small town so, like, everyone’s married with children or about to have children. So it’s a little hard when you go home and people are like — and that’s why people think I’m gay – because they’re like ‘Why aren’t you married?’ And I’m like, ‘it doesn’t happen for everyone right off the bat.”

The Big Gay Lifestyle Show is Europe’s biggest indoor gay lifestyle event, and what is believed to be the first event of its kind in the UK.

The event is sponsored by UK gay superbrand Gaydar, supported by Google and in partnership with Stonewall.

Tickets for the show were originally £6 but are now free due to the sponsorship of g3 and Out in the City.

Attractions will include exhibitions, competitions, product sales, entertainment and a wine-tasting event.

Performers will include Miss Dusty O, Trannyshack and the Gay Men’s Chorus.

An afterparty will be held at Vauxhall’s Fire club, with free entry to all Big Gay Lifestyle Show wristband-holders and an exclusive performance by Pam Ann.

Attendance to the Big Gay Lifestyle Show is free of charge until 5.30pm, as long as wristbands are picked up from the venue before 3pm on the day.

Visitors are advised to register online at www.biggaylifestyleshow.com/tickets.

Meanwhile, tomorrow will see the third Diversity Careers Show.

The event, organised by Square Peg Media and Stonewall, includes exhibitors such as American Express, Asda, Ernst and Young, while Google will offer CV advice to 100 guests.

Both events will be held at the New Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden.

For more information about the Diversity Careers show, visit www.diversitycareersshow.com

For more information about the Big Gay Lifestyle Show, visit www.biggaylifestyleshow.com

The current chair and deputy chair, David Isaac and Liz Grant, will complete their terms next year and the organisation is seeking to replace them, as well as appointing a number of other trustees.

Candidates with senior experience in communications, finance and audit, law, social policy and education are being encouraged to apply.

The closing date for applications is November 9th. For an information pack and details of how to apply go to www.saxbam.com/jobs using reference UAAHA.

Mr Glover, who is the civil partner of Times writer Matthew Parris, will replace Ameet Gill, who has become Number 10′s new head of strategic comms.

According to Paul Waugh of PoliticsHome.com, Mr Glover is a “modernising Tory” who has impressed Downing Street over the last year with his enthusiasm for the coalition.

This week, the prime minister urged his party to back same-sex marriage.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference in Manchester, he said Tories should back the move because of their Conservatism, not in spite of it.

Kim Oakland was giving evidence against four people accused of threatening and abusing her on June 3rd, the Cumberland News reports.

Gary Davidson, 44, Roberto Diblasio, 27 and Gemma Louise Murphy, also 27, admitted the offences. Susan Welsh, 28, was cleared of the same offence after a trial.

Ms Oakland said: “They were saying ‘that’s a man; that’s a fella’. All four of them were giving me abuse. They were ridiculing me and laughing at me. I told them I was a transsexual, not a man.”

She continued: “I’ve spent a lot of money and gone through a lot of emotions and sacrifices to look feminine so that when people see me in the street they don’t take a second glance.

“When this happens, everybody stands and stares and says: ‘There’s a transsexual’ and that opens you up to more abuse.”

Ms Welsh denied taking part in the abuse and said she told the others to stop.

Diblasio was given a 12-month community order with a six-month curfew.

Murphy, who also admitted assaulting Ms Oakland by knocking her phone out of her hand, and Davidson, will be sentenced later this month.

The couple, who are parents to five children, including two sets of twins, deny five counts of contravening the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations.

They appeared at Southwark crown court yesterday alongside three other people.

The charges relate to their company Euroderm Research, which went into liquidation in 2008. The business conducted tests for dermatological and cosmetic products.

The Drewitt-Barlows are charged with letting participants take part in trials more than once, failing to complete consent forms correctly and making a false application for an ethics committee opinion by saying Barrie was a nurse when he did not hold the necessary qualifications.

They made history in 1999 when they travelled to the US to conceive twins Saffron and Aspen through a surrogate mother. The couple now have three more children.

These exciting roles will put the successful candidates at the heart of the UK’s most-read LGBT publication. Covering everything from politics to celebrities, you’ll drive our daily coverage of breaking news as well as working on long-term investigations, features and interviews.

An ideal stepping stone into a career in journalism, all of the previous holders of the role have gone on to successful careers in national journalism.

Your day could start with editing a column written by the leader of the opposition, continue with covering the latest developments on the fight for gay marriage in the United States and end with a reception in Downing Street while still managing to write around seven other stories for our worldwide audience. You’ll gain access to some of the most significant figures in British life, as well as developing a profile as an expert on LGBT rights and being called upon by national media companies to comment on issues involving the LGBT community.

The ideal candidates will have a strong degree from a respected university, preferably with a journalism qualification or at the least significant experience in reporting and media law. You’ll need to be confident to work autonomously as well as part of a team and be confident to sub your own stories. As an online publication, experience of SEO and social media is a must together with an ability to quickly learn how to use WordPress and Adobe Photoshop.

Working hours will vary and will involve working at the weekend from time to time at our office in Shoreditch, East London. There is the potential for one of the two full time and some of the freelance roles to be based outside of the UK, working from home.

PinkNews.co.uk welcomes applications from all, whatever your background. We’re looking for the best candidates regardless of whether you are LGBT or straight. All we ask is that you have a strong commitment to LGBT rights.

Click here to download an application form. Please email a completed form to jobs@pinknews.co.uk and indicate if you are applying for both permanent and freelance reporting roles.

The deadline is October 16th 2011. Candidates who are shortlisted will be invited to London for an interview in late October/early November.

The star, 40, tied the knot with long-term boyfriend Jon Tsouras at the Trafalgar Tavern pub in Greenwich on Friday.

The couple had a small ceremony with family and friends.

According to the Daily Star, many of the actor’s soap co-stars turned up.

A source said: “It was a good old-fashioned East End knees-up and everyone was in good spirits for John’s special day.

“Once the formalities were over it really was all about celebrating and boy did they put on a good bash.

“The champagne flowed all night and everyone took to the dancefloor until the early hours.”

Partridge plays gay character Christian Clarke in EastEnders.

Yesterday, the country’s police chief warned that marchers in Belgrade may face violence from far-right extremists.

Interior minister Ivica Dacic said that the event is a major security risk for the public, police and property as a far-right group plans to hold a march at the same time.

He told Reuters: “If I were the organisers I would recognise our security assessment and I would postpone the parade.

“If they do not make such a decision, the police will be forced to do so, as no one else will.”
Belgrade’s mayor has also called for the event to be banned,

Last year, 100 people – mostly police officers – were injured when 20,000 people held a counter-protest against the gay marchers.

Serbia’s police chief, Ivica Dacic, has urged organisers to cancel the event, although he said police would protect them if the march goes ahead.

Organiser Goran Miletic told Reuters that authorities should not give in to threats of violence.

“Violence is not normal. What is normal in a democratic country is to have people rallying peacefully for a couple of hours,” he said.

Aiden Jackson, 18, denies murder but admits manslaughter and claims he attacked 67-year-old David Cowley because he was “disgusted” by the older man’s sexual advances.

Mr Cowley’s body was found on November 17th 2010 at a remote spot at Ballast Pits off Mareham Lane. He had been beaten and suffocated.

According to the Lincolnshire Echo, Jackson told Lincoln crown court that Mr Cowley had offered him money for sex the previous evening, which “shocked” him.

But he admitted going to meet the older man the next day to be driven to the remote spot.

He said Mr Cowley asked him if he would do anything sexual and he replied that he was not gay.

Prosecutor Amjad Malik QC asked: “For his conversation about him liking young men, you found him disgusting?”

Jackson replied: “Yes. He was preying on young people.”

He said he pushed Mr Cowley when the older man put his hand down the defendant’s trousers.

He claimed that he then drove home in the pensioner’s car and returned later with a friend, who he said told him to put his foot on Mr Cowley’s neck.

Jackson claimed that the other teenager stamped on the victim’s head several times before they left.

The prosecution says Mr Jackson acted alone. A 17-year-old boy has been cleared of perverting the course of justice.

Michael Overd, 47, from Creech St Michael in Somerset, allegedly told the men that they were “evil” and would “burn in hell”.

He appeared at Taunton Deane magistrates’ court and denies two charges under the public order act of intentionally causing “alarm or distress”.

The couple, Craig Manning and Craig Nicholl, said they were walking through Taunton’s town centre when Mr Overd began shouting at them.

Dean Lampard, prosecuting, said Mr Overd had repeated the phrases and “upset” the couple.

Mr Overd will go on trial in February.

A Christian street preacher has appeared in court charged with verbally abusing a gay couple.

Michael Overd, 47, from Creech St Michael in Somerset, allegedly told the men that they were “evil” and would “burn in hell”.

He appeared at Taunton Deane magistrates’ court and denies two charges under the public order act of intentionally causing “alarm or distress”.

The couple, Craig Manning and Craig Nicholl, said they were walking through Taunton’s town centre when Mr Overd began shouting at them.

Dean Lampard, prosecuting, said Mr Overd had repeated the phrases and “upset” the couple.

Mr Overd will go on trial in February.

A US-based blog named the politicians, who include right-wing MPs and members of Silvio Berlusconi’s ruling party, and said they were secretly gay.

According to AFP, the blog’s authors wrote: “We decided to start with these ten names to show clearly how hypocrisy and discrimination rule in the Italian parliament.”

Gay rights groups were divided over the website.

While Equality Italia’s head Aurelio Mancuso said MPs should not be ashamed of being called gay, Paolo Patane of Arcigay said the list gave no evidence of the politicians’ alleged homosexuality or homophobia.

Italy’s parliament recently rejected a bill to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people from discrimination.

The country already bans discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, ethnicity and nationality but campaigners say rising numbers of homophobic and transphobic attacks means LGBT people need more protection.

Italy also bars gay couples from marrying or adopting children.

Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is on record for opposing gay rights, although gay campaigners claim his alleged affairs with minors make him a hypocrite.

Last year, the Italian leader brushed off criticism, saying: “It’s better to be passionate about beautiful women than to be gay.”

The American Civil Liberties Union is working on behalf of a former Air Force staff sergeant and 142 former troops who received only half of their expected severance pay after they were fired for being gay.

The Justice Department has asked the US Court of Federal Claims to dismiss the case. However, Judge Christine Odell Cook Miller said she was inclined to allow it to continue, Associated Press reports.

The military grants severance pay which can be halved by a number of conditions. These include discharge on the basis of homosexuality and unsuccessful drug or alcohol addiction treatment.

According to the ACLU, the policy of denying gay troops full severance pay is unconstitutional.

The case was brought by former Air Force Staff Sgt Richard Collins, who was discharged in 2006 after two civilians he worked with saw him kiss his boyfriend on the cheek while off-duty ten miles away from their base.

He expected to be paid $25,702 after his discharge but received just $12,351.

While the Obama administration is not defending the policy, it says that courts cannot rewrite military regulations.

Joshua Block, a staff attorney for the ACLU, said: “The government is too embarrassed to defend the constitutionality of its policy in open court, so it is inventing new reasons to deny these service members justice.

“These veterans served their country honourably and deserve the full recognition and benefits that are afforded to other service members. The sums they seek are small to the military, but make a huge difference when readjusting to civilian life.”

Andrew Davis, 42, and Jonathan Huckerby, 21, were jailed for eight and five years respectively for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and theft.

The pair, who met their 47-year-old victim in a hotel, pretended to be gay so he would invite them back to his home, the Melton Times reports.

Once inside the property, they beat him and stole his phone, keys and £30 in cash.

Judge Michael Pert, at Leicester crown court, said that while the attack was not motivated by homophobia, the pair had used the victim’s sexual orientation.

Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer Dc Michelle Preston, of Melton CID, called the incident a “particularly nasty assault … motivated by homophobia”.

Davis was convicted of the offences, while Huckerby pleaded guilty to both.

Jin Xing, 44, had sex reassignment surgery in 1996. She was booked to appear for eight weeks on Feitong Fanxiang, a show for professional singers.

She told China Daily that the show’s director, Chao Chi-tai, called her personally to say that government officials had demanded for her to be axed from the show.

Jin claimed that Chao, quoting from an official document from culture officials in Zhejiang province, said her “transgender identity could have negative effects on society”.

The dancer says she is not interested in compensation or an apology.

“I’m just angry that the officials used such a lame excuse. It’s a personal attack,” she said.

The Zhejiang province culture department has not commented.

The film shows the victims, aged 22 and 25, walking in the direction of Tottenham Court Road at around 1.30am on August 9th.

A group of four men are seen following them. Then, the younger man is hit from behind and knocked out.

The other victim pushes one of the attackers who punches him several times while shouting homophobic abuse.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Camilla Phillips, said: “This was a particularly nasty attack on two men who had been enjoying a night out together.

“The incident was completely unprovoked and the victims were lucky to escape with the injuries they did, as the violent nature of the attack could easily have resulted in more serious injuries.

“The CCTV footage clearly shows what happened and I am keen to hear from anyone who thinks they may recognise any of the four suspects, or may have information about the incident.”

Anyone with information should contact Westminster Community Safety Unit on 0207 321 9388 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

See below for footage, via LBC.co.uk: