Bosses of big business in the US are publicly supporting gay rights to prevent damage being done to their brands.

At a conference promoting gay rights on Wall Street in New York City yesterday (29 April), bosses of several banks said gay-friendly workplaces were vital to attract young employees and keep good workers.

Lloyd Blankfein, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, said LGBT equality is not only a civil rights issue but a business issue.

This year's Manchester Pride season kicks off with an exclusive, red-carpet event held on 6 April in the Concorde Hangar at Manchester Airport.

Inspired by the power and energy of the fastest plane in the world, the 'Supersonic'-themed fundraiser will blow guests away with a premiere three-course dinner and lively entertainment underneath a Concorde Jet.

The Defense of HK Freedom have demanded the departure of the region's political leader, Chief Executive Chun-Ying (CY) Leung who has refused to even debate new sexual orientation discrimination laws.

The comments came during a protest today (16 January) following CY's annual policy address where the government announced it would not be holding a consultation on a sexual orientation discrimination ordinance.

Manchester Pride, one of the UK’s biggest and best gay festivals, is to donate £52,000 ($84,000, €64,000) to charity – but its profits have been halved by bad weather.

The event charges for entry to the streets of Manchester’s gay Village during the pride weekend but always spreads its profits around the north west’s LGBT and HIV charities.

But this year’s festival in August in the gay capital of northern England faced a perfect storm of wet weather and a UK-wide decline of 20% in charitable giving.

Gay rights campaigners are urging the UK’s Football Association to get tough on anti-gay hate in the sport.

Stonewall is working with the FA on initiatives to tackle the issue, but they say it is up to the authorities to create an environment in which players are not fearful about the consequences of coming out.

‘Anti-gay abuse is all too common on both terraces and pitches. This abuse almost always goes unchallenged,' Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said. 

Stonewall, Britain’s leading gay campaign group, has named Cardinal Keith O’Brien its Bigot of the Year at its annual awards ceremony.

The leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, declared ‘war’ on plans for same-sex marriage equality in the country and likened gay marriage to slavery and child abuse.

Ruth Davidson, who went from a newly-elected Member of the Scottish Parliament to being the first openly-gay leader of a major political party in Britain by heading Scotland’s Conservatives, was cheered when she was named Politician of the Year.

It’s undeniable that each year it seems to get earlier and earlier that the decorations go up, the carols are played on repeat and Mariah Carey releases another version of ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’.

Whether this fills you with seasonal joy or scrooge-like gloom, at some point you are going to have to turn your thoughts to Christmas presents.

The Brazilian state of São Paulo organized a collective ‘gay partnership day’ in which 46 couples had their relationship registered as a civil union, followed by a religious blessing and an all night party.

The event was a partnership between the government of the state of São Paulo, its department of justice and the leisure centre of northeastern traditions (CTN) in the city of São Paulo.

Action for Children has been chosen as one of the main sponsors of Britain’s second ever LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week.

LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week, which will run from 4 to 10 March next year, is a national campaign run by New Family Social, the UK charity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adopters and foster carers.

The week aims to find more families from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities to change the lives of children currently in care.

Olympics organizers have backed a gay sports event in London, saying they see it as part of the games' 'legacy'.

Pride House, a gay venue for Olympic athletes, spectators, tourists, families and friends, was given the official support of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in a letter from LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton.

British political party Liberal Democrats are being accused of homophobia during a by-election campaign.

Gay Conservative Adrian Amer was beaten by straight Liberal candidate Rebekah Moll by just 23 votes yesterday (5 July) in Kingston Grove, a constituency of south-west London.

The Lib Dems released leaflets saying ‘It’s always a straight fight in Grove ward,’ with Amer painted as the ‘unknown candidate’.

Extremist Christians protested outside a conference on tackling homophobia in schools, accusing organizers Stonewall of trying to ‘indoctrinate’ pupils through the education system.

The demonstration by the Core Issues Trust, which advocates 'gay cure therapy', was laughed off by Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill during his opening speech at the event in London’s British Library today (5 July).

Joking, he thanked them for highlighting the need for the LGBT group’s work.