Transgender people in film have been much in focus this month, with festivals taking place in Bologna, Italy over the first weekend – and Amsterdam a week later.

The Italian Festival, Divergenti, billed itself as an international festival of transsexual film, and was organized by the Italian Transsexual Movement (Movimento Identitita Transessuale – or MIT, for short).

LGBT film festivals in Amsterdam and Lisbon have joined The Iris Film Prize, the world's biggest gay short film festival, and will each nominate a short film to compete.

They join the expanding international network of LGBT film festivals including Outfest, Newfest and Gaze.

President Vladimir Putin has said Russia does not discriminate against homosexuals.

The Russian president was speaking at a press conference in Amsterdam, where gay rights activists, topless feminists and other protestors critical of the lack of human rights laws in the country had greeted him.

He said: ‘In the Russian Federation – so that it is clear to everybody – there is no infringement on the rights of sexual minorities.

‘These people…enjoy all the same rights and freedoms as everyone else.’

'I’m going to Amsterdam tomorrow.' I said to my Swedish friend Anders as we were catching up over lunch in London’s Soho.

'Amsterdam? Did you know that there are a lot of canals?' he asked quizzically in his strange Swedish accent that makes me want to eat meatballs.

'Yes - I’ve been there before.' I confirmed.

'I did not expect there to be so many canals...' He looked wistful. He’s about to become a father for the first time, I think that makes you a bit wistful.

Activist and film producer Sunghwan Kim (also known as Dave Kim) talks to Gay Star News about LGBT rights in socially conservative South Korea, and why he's getting married for money.

Why did you and your partner launch Rainbow Factory, a production company for LGBT-themed films?

The reason I started working in the film industry is through my boyfriend. He is the CEO of Generation Blue Film in Korea quite a big film company. He suggested, 'why don't you work with me?', because there was no gay film company in Korea.

Continuing our series of profiling the LGBT sports clubs around the world, in this issue we catch up with Remco Kobus - president of Gay Swim Amsterdam.

When was the Gay Swim Amsterdam club established?

The club was established in 1995 by Bob van Schijndel.

Is it just a swimming club or do you include other activities?

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has backed London’s bid to host the 2018 Gay Games today (11 January).

Ministers have pledged to help the organizers to negotiate the use of the Olympic venues for the competition, the Evening Standard reports.

London will go head to head with Paris, Orlando, Amsterdam and Limerick to stage the event.

Small, blonde and deceptively softly spoken, Alex Davis is a force to be reckoned with.

Originally from Portsmouth in the South of England, Davis has been swimming competitively since the age of five.

Still swimming, Davis is now also a sports development officer for local government in London but these days her big challenge (along with co-chair Jonathan Harbourne) is leading the bid to bring the 2018 Gay Games to London.

The New York Gotham Knights are preparing to defend their gay rugby world title this weekend as Manchester hosts the Bingham Cup.

In total 39 clubs from 15 countries will be represented at the tournament in Manchester, north west England which is being supported by the country’s Rugby Football Union.

The gay capital of the north is preparing to host over 1,500 players and spectators from Amsterdam, Dublin, Ottawa, Stockholm, Sydney and beyond.

CinemAsia Film Festival in Amsterdam starts tomorrow with a Queer & Asian section screening seven films from Indonesia, China, Singapore, The Philippines and Japan.

Gay Star News talk to Chinese director Fan Popo who is presenting the European premiere of his film, Be a Woman, about drag queens in Nanning in southwest China.

What was the most challenging aspect about making Be a Woman?

Amsterdam's chief rabbi has been suspended after signing a statement claiming there is a 'gay cure'.

The Dutch city's Orthodox Jewish community made the decision to temporarily relieve Aryeh Ralbag of his post after the US-born official endorsed a document which states that 'homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle' and that it is possible to 'heal' gay people.