IKEA Italia has extended the employees’ benefits and welfare to the same-sex partners.

The announcement comes on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia today (17 May).

It is the first time a major company in Italy has made the move and the Swedish brand decided to do it in order to boost Italian discussions about LGBT people’s rights.

From today IKEA's gay and lesbian employees can ask for maternity, paternity or emergency leave, can have their partners’ health insurance, redeem a wedding voucher and have partner discounts at IKEA.

Bristol Pride is back from 7 to 14 July, including a free outdoor festival.

We Are: Proud - Bristol Pride was officially launched by Bristol's Lord Mayor earlier this month and will celebrate the flourishing LGBT community in the South West of Britain.

Thousands are expected to attend the event which will showcase talent within the local comuunity. Events will include art, film, music and dance featured in various venues across the city.

When I left New York for London nearly a year ago, currency wasn't the only thing I converted.

I've made an effort to turn what little clothes I brought overseas into a wardrobe worthy of the Eurozone. I've looked to the men in Paris and replaced t-shirts for collared shirts. I've shorn my American boot-cut jeans for a slimmer-fitting pant.

I've dressed down to what I consider the bare essentials, and yet I find myself underwhelmed, not to mention underfunded.

Republican activists are reportedly planning to use President Barack Obama’s support for gay marriage against him in the race for the White House.

GOP campaigners say they are looking to paint the US President as a ‘flip-flopper’, and say Obama’s likely Republican opponent Mitt Romney is more consistent.

Obama made history by becoming the first sitting president to express support for gay marriage on Wednesday (9 May), following support from Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

In a week when two male masseurs filed lawsuits against John Travolta claiming  sexual battery and harassment, a third man - this time a former Royal Caribbean Cruise Line employee - says Travolta also accosted him.

Business leaders will meet in London this summer to discuss how to increase workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees around the world.

The Out & Equal summit on 5 and 6 July coincides with the UK capital holding this year’s World Pride – Gay Star News is a partner of both events.

The speakers include:

During an interview that was aired on Thursday night, the worldwide pop sensation Lady Gaga admitted to finding cocaine ‘sexy’ when she was younger.

Speaking candidly about her emotional and mental difficulties living in New York as a young musician before finding international fame, the 26-year-old star, real name Stefani Germanotta, explained on The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet that “the drug was my friend”.

If everything goes as planned, the US Olympic male gymnast team will have its first out athlete when the world meets in London this summer. Yesterday (5 May) Josh Dixon finished second out of 72 competitors at the US Men’s Qualifier in Colorado Springs. He also tied for first in the floor exercise and high bar events.

Las Vegas is opening what owners claim will be the United States' first bar and gaming venue staffed solely by drag queens tomorrow (5 May).

Glamour will be taking centre stage as the bar Drink & Drag opens in the Nevada gambling capital employing over 24 full-time drag artistes.

It is set to become the largest employer of drag queens in the US.

The 22,000-square-foot venue is the brainchild of leading US nightclub Krave.

It will feature 12 bowling lanes, billiards and a 100-inch projector HD console lit by jewel-encrusted chandeliers.

Canada’s National Defence Department is considering cutting free Viagra and tax-paid transgender surgery for their armed forces.

The country is currently looking for ways to trim its $1.5 billion (£922million, €1.1billion) defence budget, and both programs cost more than $2million (£1.2million, €1.5million) a year.

Singer Cyndi Lauper will be honored by the US government for her LGBT advocacy.

The ‘Time After Time’ pop star will be given the prize by US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day in Washington DC on 9 May.

Lauper co-founded the True Colors fund to bring an end to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender homelessness, and inspire straight people to become active participants in the advancement of LGBT equality.

John and Sally Bercow will be joining hundreds of Stonewall supporters on the ninth annual Equality Walk on 6 May in the southern English seaside city of Brighton.

The 10k walk raises funds for Stonewall’s Education for All program, which helps schools tackle homophobia so they’re safe and supportive for children from all families.