Georgia Judge rejects gay marriage ban
Declaring a measure overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004 violated a provision of the state constitution that limits ballot questions to a single subject, a Georgia judge struck down the state's gay marriage ban this week.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Constance Russell handed down the ruling that gay rights supporters who filed the court challenge in November 2004 had been eagerly awaiting, shortly after the constitutional ban was approved.
Gay activists held in Pentagon protest
Twenty-one members of a cross country tour promoting gay rights to Christian and military colleges were detained at the U.S. Military Academy last week while protesting the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Members of the gay protest group Soulforce Equality Riders were issued citations on the last stop of their 20 campus tour.
Anti-gay minister loses web appeal
Notoriously anti-gay televangelist Jerry Falwell lost a Supreme Court appeal yesterday of a case that sought to shut down a web site with a similar name but opposing views on gay rights.
In the appeal, Mr Falwell claimed a gay man from New York City improperly draws attention to his site by using a common misspelling of his name as the site's domain name.
Mormons threatens to excommunicate member who held a legal gay marriage
The Mormon Church is threatening to excommunicate a long-time member who legally married his long-term male partner in Toronto, Canada last year.
Buckley Jeppson, 57, married Mike Kessler in 2004, but says senior church official recently told him his life is incompatible with the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that a disciplinary council would address the matter.
New Zealand clinics legalise gay sperm donation
A fertility clinic's U-Turn on a ban against gay men from donating sperm means it will start accepting donations by the end of the month, according to Reuters.
The decision comes after a Wellington man was denied from making a donation after hearing about a national donor shortage and offering to help. Both he and his partner were told they could not donate sperm because they were gay.
Pro gay rights judge threatened with impeachment
After years of promising to impeach any judge who attempted to overturn a Maryland state law banning same-sex marriage, Ann Arundel County delegate Don Dwyer attempted to do just that this week when Baltimore circuit court judge M. Brooke Murdock ruled in favour of same-sex marriage.
But his fellow lawmakers didn't agree, voting 20-3 late Thursday to reject a proposal to impeach Ms Murdock.
South Korea makes gay film a hit
As Brokeback Mountain sails past $75 million at the box office in the United States, a gay-themed movie in South Korea has become the country's third most popular film of all time.
King and the Clown, which tells the story of an effeminate male clown caught between the affections of a despotic king and a fellow performer, has sold more than 11 million tickets since its Dec. 29 premiere, a feat considering the country's conservative climate.
Washington campaign against gay discrimination
Washington campaigners seeking to overturn a new gay civil rights law have met a strong group of opponents fighting to keep the recently approved ban on discrimination in housing, employment and insurance.
According to the Associated Press, the Washington Won't Discriminate campaign began in response to two ballot measures seeking to challenge the new law, signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire last month.
Australian school orders lesbian to remove pro gay t-shirt
School officials at a high-school in Melbourne have caused a stir by asking a student to remove a t-shirt with a gay slogan.
More than 30 students at Strathmore Secondary College rallied behind a 17-year-old senior named Stephanie after teachers at the school told her to change out of the t-shirt for class pictures.
Stephanie, who requested that her last name not be published, said she had worn the t-shirt with the slogan "Nobody knows I'm a lesbian" printed across the front to school on several occasions without concerns being raised by staff or fellow students.
Anti gay judge appointed to Supreme Court
A judge who opposed legalised abortion and gay rights has been appointed to the Supreme Court in the USA.
Samuel Alito, President George Bush's second Supreme Court pick, narrowly won confirmation in the tightest race victory since Clarence Thomas was appointed to the court in 1991.
Mr Alito opposed legalised abortion and gay rights as a young lawyer but now says he will approach the issues with an "open mind," won his seat with a 58-42 Senate vote.
D.C. considers gay rights plan
The Washington D.C. city council announced over the weekend it is considering expanding rights for gay and lesbian couples, but that doesn't include legalising equal marriage rights.
D.C. council member Jim Graham told the Washington Post that he is: "seriously considering" introducing a bill that would legalise marriage for gay and lesbian couples who live in the district.
Analysts believe it could be a difficult piece of legislation to push through.
Gay rights group to challenge moves to end gay marriages in Massachusetts
A gay rights legal organisation today challenged a ruling that allowed a petition drive for a constitutional amendment that would end same-sex marriages in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly "simply got it wrong" in September when he certified VoteOnMarriage's marriage amendment for a petition drive, said Gary Buseck, legal director of Gay Lesbian Advocates Defenders (GLAD), which filed its lawsuit before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
Scottish Cardinal denounces gay marriages
The leader of Scotland's Roman Catholic Church has attacked the country's government ministers for undermining the sanctity of marriage by allowing "gay weddings".
Archbishop of Edinburgh, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, is also set to launch an attack on the Scottish Executive for cutting the minimum separation period of divorce.
In his New Year's Day homily at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, the cardinal said that during 2006, he would urge the Executive in particular to give "unequivocal support" to marriage.
Spanish magistrate resigns after refusing to officiate at gay weddings
A magistrate from Madrid who refused to marry same-sex couples after gay marriage was legalized throughout Spain has presented a formal resignation to the country's Supreme Court.
Antonio Alonso, who is the magistrate for the town of Pinto, said he resigned because he believes that gay marriage is unconstitutional: "It is impossible for me, as a magistrate, to present an appeal for unconstitutionality against the law which allows these marriages.
Texas man charged over gay killing
Dallas police have charged a man with the killing of a gay man on October 11, one of seven unsolved gay killings in the Dallas area police are continuing to investigate.
Ray Martinez, 31, was charged with capital murder in the beating death of Craig Ceson, 46. Ceson's body was found in his apartment near Love Field. An autopsy showed he died from head injuries.
There was no sign of a break-in and police said that Ceason's car had been stolen. The vehicle was later found in Fort Worth.
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