LGBT global news 24-7

First time flying Finnair. First time to Helsinki. First time to Finland.

As I stepped off the plane and down on to the tarmac I regretted forgetting to pack my sunglasses – the sky was blue and the sun was shining. Spring had arrived in Helsinki.

I was here to investigate whether Helsinki is Europe’s next gay travel hotspot. People need to know.

Meituan, a Chinese version of Groupon, the group deals website, is offering gay couples the chance to marry in Canada for free.

'On 20 and 21 May, Meituan Rainbow Day, we support comrades [slang for gay people],' the deal site says, 'because we believe that marriage is not about similarities or differences, it's about true love, regardless of gender'.

Mark Carson was remembered tonight (20 May) at the corner where he was murdered.

The Church of Scotland’s General Assembly has voted to allow openly gay people to become ministers.

The church voted today (20 May) 340 for and 282 allow the ordination of gay and lesbian ministers but only next year.

The decision will have to be endorsed by the church's regional presbyteries and officially approved next year.

The year’s delay is seen as a narrow victory for the traditionalist wing of the Church that threatened to split off.

Archie Comics’ openly gay character Kevin Keller will give his boyfriend, Devon, a kiss in an upcoming issue - a kiss witnessed by a Riverdale mom who has all kinds of problems with it.

In the issue, which comes out on 7 August, the kiss at Tate's Diner results in an incident when the mom 'gets very offended and kind of pitches a bit of a fit,' Dan Parent, who writes and draws the issue, tells the Associated Press.

Church of Scotland’s General Assembly is to debate gay ministers in same-sex relationships today (20 May).

The institution’s governing body will consider whether to allow people in same-sex relationships to be ordained as ministers, four years after the first openly gay minister was ordained.

They will be discussing a 94-page report by the Theological Commission, which sets out arguments on both sides.

In a blog post, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and leadership rival for current leader Julia Gillard, has declared his support for same-sex marriage.

Rudd, who is a current Australian Labor Party backbencher said: ‘I have come to the conclusion that church and state can have different positions and practices on the question of same sex marriage. I believe the secular Australian state should be able to recognize same sex marriage.’

Members of Parliament (MPs) have knocked back amendments to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales that would have watered down or possibly delayed or ‘wrecked the bill’.

An amendment by Conservative party gay marriage critic David Burrowes MP to allow marriage registrars to refuse to conduct same-sex weddings was defeated by 340 votes to 150.

British political party Labour has announced they have abandoned support for a 'wrecking' amendment supporting opposite-sex civil partnerships today (20 May).

Yvette Cooper, the Shadow Home Secretary and the Shadow Equalities Minister, has announced Labour will table its own amendment.

As outlined on The World At One, she explained the amendment would establish 'an immediate consultation on opposite-sex civil partnerships', which, she said, could begin even before the bill has completed its parliamentary pasage.

Country music singer Chely Wright and her wife, Lauren Blitzer-Wright, are the parents of identical twin boys born over the weekend.

The singer, whose hits include Single White Female and Shut Up and Drive, gave birth to the children on Saturday (18 May) in New York City.

The babies are named George Samuel and Everett Joseph after their great-grandfathers.

In announcing her pregnancy in March, Wright had said the babies were technically due in July but since they were identical twins, she had expected to deliver at least a month early.

David Bowie’s celebrated refrain 'We can be heroes, just for one day' is the key message behind the London Gay Men’s Chorus (LGMC) new concert.

Honouring the people who have contributed to bettering the everyday lives of the LGBT community, the aptly titled Heroes will be performed at Cadogan Hall in the UK capital from the 24 to 25 May.

The first survey on homophobia in the workplace in China has found that only 6% of gay men and lesbians questioned are fully out at work.

The survey of 2,161 respondents found that 47.62% are fully in the closet at work and around 46% are out to some of their colleagues.

Over 50% had heard offensive words used about LGBT people, over 30% have heard or suffered personal attacks about sexual orientation and over 20% have resigned or considered resigning because of a hostile work environment.

The report, from Aibai LGBT rights group, also found: