The professional sports world has been waiting for a Jason Collins moment – a gay athlete currently playing in a major league to come out publicly. What you may not know is that the subtext is that it was hoped the moment would star an African American male.

The African American community, let alone the sports world, desperately needed an openly gay, current, male, professional player.

Polopalooza is the annual LGBT water polo competition hosted by the Toronto Triggerfish (reportedly the largest LGBT water polo club in the world).  The 2013 event has just concluded with the final play-off match completed today, Sunday 28th April.

Ellen DeGeneres is well-known for her comedy but on her daytime talk show, she will also turn serious at times to address major news events.

Monday (15 April) was one of those days when during the taping of a show to air today, DeGeneres learned of the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

At the end of the show, she takes a moment to address the tragedy.

‘I want to tell everyone in Boston that we’re thinking about you,' DeGeneres says. 'We’re watching the news and it’s incredibly sad.’

Among those who rushed to help victims of the Boston Marathon bombing on Monday (15 April) was Javier Pagan, the Boston Police Department’s liaison to the LGBT community.

Pagan is one of three officers captured by Boston Globe photographer John Tlumacki running toward 78-year-old marathoner Bill Iffrig who is lying on the ground.

The photo has quickly become one of the most iconic images from the attack and is the cover of the next issue of Sports Illustrated magazine. Pagan is one of three officers in the shot and is standing on the left.

Westboro Baptist Church has weighed-in on a national tragedy again to say that the explosion that killed three people and injured hundreds at the finishing line of the Boston Marathon yesterday was sent by God to punish the state of Massachusetts for passing same-sex marriage law.

'God sent the Boston Marathon Bombs for the sin of Massachusetts passing same-sex marriage! #SHAME #USAsDoom' said a tweet from the church.

Another tweet, referring to the Ellen DeGeneres Show, said:

The justices of the US Supreme Court raised major doubts today about the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act during its second hearing in two days on gay marriage.

Journalists who watched the proceedings immediately began tweeting that it appears that DOMA, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, has the five votes needed to be struck down.

Bored of the usual Christmas booze of sherry and mulled wine? Spice up your festive bar with one of these fabulous cocktails.

Tia Expresso Martini

There's nothing like an espresso to get you up on Christmas morning. Tia Maria's own version of a classic cocktail uses its own spirit to add depth and smoothness to a drink for those with rich tastebuds.

A federal appeals court in Manhattan on Thursday (18 October) ruled 2-1 that the US Defense of Marriage Act, defines marriage as between a man and a woman, is unconstitutional.

A federal appeals court in Boston also found DOMA unconstitutional earlier this year and the issue is expected to be taken up by the US Supreme Court during its current term.

The New York case was filed by Edith Windsor who sued because she was required to pay a $350,000 federal estate tax bill. The government does not recognize her marriage to her late wife Thea Spyer.

Days after the mayor of Boston said Chick-fil-A isn't welcome in his city because of its anti-gay stance, a Chicago politician is now seeking to block the chain from opening a restaurant in the Windy City.

Alderman Joe Moreno vows to stop the Atlanta-based chain from building what would be the first free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant in the city. It would be located in Moreno's ward in the northwest side of Chicago. The company still needs some permits approvals from the City Council to move forward.

A transgender teenager banned from taking an exam unless she went home and changed into boys' clothing used UK equality laws to slam the school's bigoted headteacher.

Ashlyn Parram was told she wasn't allowed to take her first GCSE exam at Giles Academy, Boston, Lincolnshire, because she was wearing tights, skirt and a blazer, The Sun reported.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino is blasting fast food chain Chick-fil-A's public stance against gay marriage and says its restaurants don't belong in the Massachusetts city.

'You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population,' Menino tells the Boston Herald in an interview published Friday (20 July). We’re an open city, we’re a city that’s at the forefront of inclusion.'

Maine voters have a second chance at approving gay marriage when they go to the polls in November and a poll released today (18 June) is encouraging news for marriage equality advocates.

In a survey of 506 likely voters, 55 percent of the respondents said they are in favor of same-sex couples being allowed to marry while 36 percent are against. Nine percent are undecided.