From 26 June 26 to 3 July, US President Barack Obama will be visiting Africa. The visit takes him to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania.

According a statement released by the White House, Obama will use his visit ‘to reinforce the importance that the United States places on our deep and growing ties with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including through expanding economic growth, investment, and trade; strengthening democratic institutions; and investing in the next generation of African leaders’.

Pope Francis encouraged French politicians to take matters into their own hands in a speech apprently directed at gay marriage.

Speaking to a delegation of French politicians and representatives at the Vatican yesterday, Pope Francis called France a ‘nation to which the eyes of the world often turn,’ pointing to the controversial Marriage for All Bill that split the country into in an unprecedented show of public discord between gay marriage opponents and supporters.

A survey of just under 1,200 American adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender shows that 92% feel like they have become more accepted in the past decade.

But that doesn't mean it's been easy according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the experiences and attitudes of the LGBT population released this week.

Google searches relating to gay sex are most common in Pakistan out of all the countries in the world, new research from Mother Jones discovered yesterday.

US televangelist Pat Robertson said this week that it breaks his heart to see the Boy Scouts of America 'torn up in order to accommodate a few kids who want to do sex with each other.'

Robertson, host of The 700 Club, has a long history of anti-gay remarks but his three-minute segment against gays in scouting is one of his longer tirades delivered in a gentle style.

Last month, the Boy Scouts of America voted to end its ban on gay members although it still bans gay and lesbian adult leaders and volunteers.

Russia has passed a law that will see gay people arrested for ‘promoting homosexuality’.

The State Duma has voted unanimously for the ‘propaganda’ law in the second reading today (11 June).

Elena Mizulina represented the bill for 10 minutes where she spoke about the changes that had been made.

Aleksey Mitrofanov, a deputy from the A Just Russia party, was the only one who questioned the bill.

He questioned a proposed amendment where foreigners would be arrested and deported if they were deemed ‘promoting homosexuality’.

Christopher Pearson, columnist for The Australian and speech writer for Australia's conservative former Prime Minister John Howard, has died aged 61.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott paid tribute to Pearson saying he was one of Australia's 'finest conservative intellects' and a 'steadfast' friend.

'I valued Christopher's counsel and his wisdom,' Abbott said, Sydney Morning Herald reports.

An anti-gay leader has said an 18-year-old gay rights activist would still be alive if France had not legalized same-sex marriage.

Frigide Barjot, leader of the French religious right, argues Clément Méric would still be alive if it was not for the government who ‘refused to listen to the French people’.

Many of them may not support it themselves, but 72% of Americans see gay marriage as inevitable in the US, according to an extensive poll released this week by the Pew Research Center.

Large majorities across most demographic groups in the US feel this way including Protestants, Catholics, college grads, high school drop-outs, old, young, middle-aged, black, white, Hispanic and from all parts of the country.

Older Americans are becoming increasingly accepting of same-sex relationships, according to a new poll released this week.

A Gallup study revealed that - for the first time - a majority of those age 55 and older (51%) are now accepting - an increase of 25% since 2001.

It also means a majority of American adults across all age groups approve of gay relationships with 18-34 year olds at 74% and 35-54 year olds at 54%.

Children brought up by same-sex couples are happier, healthier, and more sociable according to the initial findings from the world’s largest study on the subject.

The research, which studied the wellbeing of 500 children in Australia, found the self-esteem of children and the amount of time they spent with their parents was no different from the rest of the population.

But infants looked after by gay couples scored higher for overall health and family cohesion.

Openly gay Asian peer, Lord Waheed Alli, has told the House of Lords that ‘different is different and equal is equal’.

He was commenting in the debate on the government’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and Wales which has already passed the elected House of Commons but now has to be approved, amended or rejected by the Lords.

Alli was one of the speakers opening the second day of the debate which yesterday saw some speakers claim the bill would lead to polygamy and lesbian queens reigning over Britain and the Commonwealth.