Greens lawmaker Tammy Franks is campaigning to end the 'gay panic' defense in South Australia.

The 'gay panic' law can be used to reduce a murder sentence to manslaughter if the defendant proves they were prompted by a same-sex sexual advance.

'It is an archaic law with dangerous consequences that sends all the wrong messages in the year 2013,' said Franks, who is a Greens Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in the state of South Australia.

'What the existing law does is effectively suggest that homophobia is okay,' said Franks.

Australian marriage equality advocates have welcomed the introduction of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage into the Western Australian state parliament by Greens' party Upper House member Lynn MacLaren, bringing to six the total number of states and territories moving forward on the issue.

Thousands have signed a petition against a ban on police officers marching in uniform at Adelaide's gay pride on Saturday (10 November).

Almost 3,000 people have now signed the AllOut.org appeal calling for the state's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender officers to be allowed to wear their uniforms with pride.

The LGBT campaign group is urging South Australia's Police Commissioner Gary Burns to reverse his command, claiming he is out of step with the rest of the country and the world.

Independent MP Bob Such has introduced a Civil Partnership Bill to state parliament in South Australia today.

‘I am introducing this bill at the request of a couple who happen to be a same-sex couple but who want this particular option available to them,’ said Such, emphasising that he is not against same-sex marriage and this bill wasn’t meant to replace that.

Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins said she was ‘really proud’ of hundreds of students at a high school in Adelaide, South Australia who have signed a pledge promising they won’t use ‘gay’ as an insult.

Higgins, who has released three number one albums in Australia since 2004, said to the Southern Times:

A parliamentary motion to stop the federal government from challenging state same-sex marriage laws has failed in the Australian parliament.

Marriage equality proponent Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young brought the motion to the Senate today but it was defeated by 38 votes to 10.

Last month same-sex marriage legislation was rejected by the two houses of the Australian federal parliament and in the state of Tasmania.

Gay Star News asks national convenor of lobby group Australian Marriage Equality what’s next for their campaign.

Australian marriage equality campaigners are hopeful that the state of South Australia can become the first jurisdiction to pass same-sex marriage laws following a defeat in the state of Tasmania.

Legislation passed successfully through Tasmania’s Lower House of Parliament but was defeated in the Upper House this week in a vote of 8 to 6.

Western Australia will become the latest state to take same-sex marriage legislation into their own hands after Greens Lynn MacLaren announced her intention to introduce a bill to state parliament.

The state with a population of 2.3 million joins South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Australian Capital Territory in initiating their own gay marriage legislation following a prolonged national campaign which may come to nothing.

A South Australian state high school has marked Wear It Purple Day, Australia’s national day supporting LGBT youth, by its entire student body signing a pledge to not use the word in a derogatory manner going forward.

Over 800 students at Wirreanda High School in the Adelaide suburb of Morphett Vale signed the pledge on Friday – becoming the second school to do so in the state.

The students all signed a banner with the slogan, ‘Pledge – It’s not okay to say “it’s gay.”

Debate on a marriage equality bill in the Australian Senate is expected to begin as soon as Thursday, after the bill’s author, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young announced she would use private member’s time to begin the debate.

Advocates say the federal government's recognition of the specific needs of the group is a historic step that has gone largely unnoticed

Gay rights advocates are cheering a government decision to recognize the needs of old gay people in Australia, where three aged-care facilities are being built specifically for gays and lesbians.