With the birth of Twitter and the death of discretion, an increasing number of public figures are candid about their anti-gay sentiments, and are paying for it.

Social media and consumer-driven content means that anything said online gets heard around the world in a matter of mouse clicks.

When homophobic and transphobic remarks are made, and apologies ensue, is it a genuine about-face or a lame attempt at lip service?

Fox News contributor Monica Crowley is walking back one of her tweets. On Thursday, 26 April,  she wondered about Sandra Fluke's announcement about being engaged.

'To a man,' the Fox News analyst asked on Twitter, as reported by the Huffington Post.

Shopping online has just got sociable. A new Facebook app, called Shopcade, aims to bring shopping and social networking together for the first time.

Until now buying on the internet was quick and easy but not much fun. Can Shopcade change that? Well, that's for you to decide. But what it does do is let you share and discuss things with your mates before you buy, even if they’re miles away. And being able to see what products are popular and trending among your friends means you’re always up to date with what’s cool.

An advertisement for a cultural project against homophobia that featured two men kissing on the lips was temporarily removed from a Facebook page because it apparently breached the social media company's decency code.

The code bars images of a 'political, sexual or other sensitive' nature.

British footballers Nile Ranger and Manny Smith have been fined for homophobic tweets.

The UK's Football Association yesterday (1 March) ordered Newcastle forward Ranger and Walsall’s Smith to pay £6,000 and £1,200 after admitting charges of 'using abusive and/or insulting words' in comments posted on Twitter.

The FA also warned players as to their future conduct.

Outraged protesters marched into the offices of a newspaper in Wellington, New Zealand, today, accusing the publication of transphobia.

The rally was organized by rights group The Queer Avengers after The Dominion Post printed columnist Rosemary McLeod's opinion piece 'Why I feel for the kids of ego-trippers'.

CNN commentator Roland Martin has been taken off the air 'for the time being' in the wake of a Twitter controversy that occurred on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has been calling for Martin's firing for tweets he wrote during the Super Bowl about an H&M advertisement featuring soccer star David Beckham.

Gay Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton has put to rest rumours that he and co-star Jack P Shepherd have fallen out following a pretend spat on Twitter.

The so-called argument began when Shepherd accused Cotton of bragging about his celebrity friends, tweeting: 'RT this if you think @antonycutton is cringe on twitter! Haha.'

Cotton cattily responded, calling Jack a 'little irritant', telling him 'you need the money more than me.'

Gay Star News aims to deliver quality journalism worldwide 24-7 and gain coverage for important lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. Social media provides a platform for us to achieve this – building awareness and interest in what we do and consequently allowing you to get involved in this exciting venture.

Twitter @gaystarnews has received a great response since going live, building followers by the day and allows for an open dialogue that we at GSN love to encourage.