Activists in Montenegro marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) by marching on the Turkish embassy in protest at the country's treatment of LGBT people.

Members from rights group, the LGBT Forum Progress, carried banners reading in English, Montenegrin and Turkish, 'Never hush, never share a crime' and other messages of love and tolerance.

Three Italian Catholic cardinals have agreed to prayer vigils held by the religious group Gionata for the victims of gay hate and discrimination for the first time.

LGBT groups will pray for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Milan, Florence and Palermo, in Sicily as part of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) to be celebrated tomorrow (17 May) in an estimated 100 countries around the world.

Mothers and aunts of gay men are more fertile than other women, a new study from Italy reveals.

University of Padua published its findings this week in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Researcher Camperio Ciani, from the university's Department of General Psychology, said: ‘We tried to find out why female relatives of gay men have more sons and daughters than other women.’

The five-year long study of more than 200 women discovered that physiological and psychological processes are involved.

According to a leaked memo from a political operative, it's time for the Republican Party to be more gay friendly.

Jan van Lohuizen, who worked as a pollster on the 2004 reelection campaign for President George W. Bush,  sent his talking points to Republican candidates. He argued the party should reflect the changing attitudes American voters now have toward gays and lesbians.

Mexico now includes gay couples as beneficiaries to social security benefits.

Winning 252 votes for, 80 against and 15 abstentions, in the country's House of Representatives these amendments improve the constitutional rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual Mexicans.

Openly gay former political advisor Dean Smith will be sworn in as Australia's newest senator today, following the death in March of Western Australia Senator Judith Adams from cancer.

Smith is the socially conservative Liberal Party's first openly gay parliamentarian, but he opposes gay marriage.

Out gay actor and author Stephen Fry is the latest high profile figure to record a Proud2Be video.

Several gay politicians, celebrities and organisations have uploaded Proud2Be videos to combat gay-shame and encourage all LGBT people to be proud of who they are.

'Part of life to learn what to be ashamed of and what to be proud of,' said British gay comedian Stephen Fry. 'I won't ever apologize for being born the way I was and feeling the way I do.'

Over 500 energetic supporters helped gay campaign group Stonewall raise more than £60,000 ($97,000 €74,000) today (6 May) on the annual Equality Walk.

The 10km walk in the seaside city of Brighton on England’s south coast took in some of the city’s most iconic sites, including the Royal Pavilion and Pier.

The threatened rainstorms held off allowing for a cloudy but dry stroll.

At the first night of Strawberry music festival in Shanghai on Sunday, headlining act Top Floor Circus made a bold declaration for gay rights, unfurling a giant rainbow flag on stage.

When the band returned to the Love Stage for an encore, they performed a song by Leslie Cheung, the popular Hong Kong actor and singer and one of the first openly gay Chinese celebrities, who committed suicide nine years ago.

Top Floor Circus vocalist Lu Chen said: 'There is diversity in love. I hope you all love your real selves'.

A North Carolina pastor who advocated that father's 'punch' their sons if they start to act effeminately is backtracking a bit on his advice after snippets of his Sunday sermon went viral.

A gay graduate was banned from speaking at his Catholic school after the staff learned of his sexuality from Facebook.

Dominic Sheahan-Stahl had been invited to speak at his younger brother’s graduation ceremony on 20 May at Sacred Heart Academy in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, but the invitation was withdrawn.

Sheahan-Stahl graduated from the school in 1998, and had received numerous honours and awards while at Sacred Heart. He has since been living his life as a proud gay man in New York City.

From festivals to flashmobs and rallies to public forums, LGBT activists and supporters around the world are planning to make their voices heard on 17 May for the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

There is no end to the diversity and scope of creative and innovative activities being planned in what is sure to be the biggest and best IDAHO yet.

So no matter where you live, there is sure to be an IDAHO event happening somewhere in your region.

Here are just some of the many exciting events that will take place.