A Canadian Muslim gay activist launched the Malay version of her controversial book on liberal Islam in Malaysia, despite official efforts to ban all her public events.

Irshad Manji and her local publisher ZI Publications eventually managed to pulled off the launch for ‘Allah, Liberty and Love’ (Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta in Malay) in front of a 50-odd crowd yesterday (19 May), after two other venues pulled out of hosting her.

This week the Justice Department published its new guidelines to put into place the Prison Rape Elimination Act (signed into law by then President George W. Bush). As reported by Think Progress, there are important protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming inmates.

Veteran gay rights campaigner and Member of the European Parliament Michael Cashman has called for same-sex marriage equality in a new video.

Openly gay Cashman became a household name as an actor in EastEnders. He went on to help create Stonewall, Britain’s leading lesbian, gay and bisexual campaign organization before becoming an MEP. He now heads the European Parliament’s LGBT rights group.

The first man to ever marry his gay partner on Italian soil is now thinking about marrying someone else.

Alessio De Giorgi, editor in chief of LGBT website Gay.it, told Gay Star News: ‘I’d like to marry my partner Lorenzo. It’s a possibility, we are thinking about it.’

De Giorgi separated from his previous partner, Christian Panicucci, in 2007.

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.

Dozens of LGBT rights campaigners in the Philippines visited the House of Representatives yesterday to ask them to pass an anti-discrimination bill.

The activists had been invited by Congressman Teddy Casino who introduced a bill last year that askes the Philippines officially declare 17 May as National Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (NADAHO).

Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the Italian PD (Democrat Party) has called for more rights for LGBT people in an interview by the national newspaper l’Unità.

Bersani said: ‘If we’ll ever win the elections and form a cabinet, we’ll have to do something to recognize same-sex unions. But don’t call it “marriage”, because our constitution does not allow it.’

Polls show PD is currently Italy’s most popular party. Bersani’s move came in response to Barack Obama’s stance on gay marriage.

Last weekend, gay activists and intellectuals in the US were wondering if President Barack Obama deserved the LGBT vote. Today? He's being called the first 'gay' president.

Blogger Andrew Sullivan's 21 May  cover story is getting early buzz before it's published. Politico.com was sent an early preview of the essay:

Now that President Barack Obama has taken a stand on gay marriage, the question of the week has been how will the new position impact the upcoming election?

A recent Gallup poll noted 6 out of 10 American voters will not be swayed by the president's embrace of same-sex marriage. Yet, the survey also showed 26 percent of citizens are less likely to vote for him now, as opposed to 13 percent who look more favorably on the president for his 'evolution.'

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.

A Conservative politician in northern England has joined homophobic Scottish campaigners in warning that gay marriage could lead to the legalization of polygamy.

Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley in Yorkshire, wrote on his blog that he feared if the UK government goes ahead with plans to give same-sex couples equal marriage rights, then it would be a slippery slope towards far more radical laws.

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: