A group of Democratic members of the Illinois House of Representatives on Monday (3 June) issued a public apology for the failure last week of the House to call for a vote on a marriage equality bill.

'We want to extend our sincerest apologies to the families who rushed to Springfield in the waning hours of session to support equality in anticipation of this historic vote,' read part of the apology. 'You have been and continue to be our inspiration and we pledge to fight together until we achieve full equality for all Illinois families.'

When on the afternoon of 30 May 2013 the news broke that Nigeria’s House of Representatives had finally passed the hideous and draconian Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Bill, I was in total shock.

I was at my best friend’s house with other secondary school colleagues of mine. We were there reminiscing on the glorious days we had in school. We remembered 20 years ago when we all left secondary school at the age of 18 years.

When Angelina Jolie talked openly about her mastectomy, many people commended her on her bravery. I have always admired her courage. From the screen to real life she has had a positive impact on so many women’s lives.

The mere fact she was comfortable enough to talk about her cancer fears will give other women the confidence they need to fight their cancer risks head-on.

The US Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israel has reportedly excluded Palestinians from speaking at reception in honor of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

Although Aswat, a Palestinian organization for Gay Women, was invited to attend, their representative was not allowed to make a speech at the Ambassador's Tel-Aviv residence tonight (16 May).

The US House of Representatives has issued its first ever spousal ID to the same-sex partner of a member of Congress.

Democratic Representative Mark Pocan’s husband Philip Frank received the ID on April 26 after the House of Representatives Sergeant At Arms informed Pocan that his husband was now eligible to receive a spousal ID.

Previously Philip Frank had had to use a ‘designee’ ID which merely recognized him as a guest of Pocan’s in the House of Representatives.

The Minnesota House of Representatives on Thursday (9 May) passed a marriage equality bill 75-59 after more than three hours of debate.

The vote was largely split down party lines although four of the House's 61 Republicans voted for the bill while two of its 73 Democrats voted against it.

If also passed by the State Senate then signed into law, Minnesota would become the 12th state in the US to allow gay marriage.

According to a Huffington Post article John Ragan, a Tennessee State House representative, was named an educational reformer by StudentsFirst. Gay and lesbian students in the US southern state know Ragan all too well. He's one of the co-sponsors of a controversial bill requiring teachers to out students to parents.

LGBT rights activists are being excluded from a conference on human rights in Southeast Asia.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) SOGI Caucus attended the first two ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People's Forums in 2011 and 2012, but it has been excluded from this year's meeting in Brunei.

'ASEAN SOGI Caucus' voice is being silent by a group that calls itself a civil society,' said Indonesia representative Vien Tanjung to Gay Star News. 

An Italian scientist and journalist is making the headlines in Italy for claiming that vaccines cause homosexuality.

Gay Star News met 70 year-old Gian Paolo Vanoli, who’s now a celebrity in the Mediterranean country.

He told GSN: ‘Being gay is a disease, but we have to love everyone, gays included, because it’s not their fault. The vaccines they had made them homosexuals.’

University students training to be counselors could be allowed to legally refuse care to people in same-sex relationships and heterosexuals who have sex before marriage under a proposed law in Tennessee.

The law was drafted by the Family Action Council of Tennessee which passed it to Republican state Senator Joey Hensley and Democrat state Representative John J. DeBerry Jr (pictured) who agreed to sponsor it in both houses of the Tennessee legislature.

Four gay Italian politicians have become members of parliament in the last general election (24 and 25 February).

Sergio Lo Giudice, Alessandro Zan, Nichi Vendola and Ivan Scalfarotto have now a seat in one of the two chambers of the Italian parliament.

Lesbian politician Anna Paola Concia, who was the only LGBT representative in the last parliament, has not been elected.

Former Arcigay’s president and local councillor with Partito Democratico Sergio Lo Giudice has been elected in the Italian Senato, the higher chamber.

Yesterday (February 22), Republicans in the US House of Representative presented their version of the Violence Against Women Act. Gay and lesbian victims of domestic violence are not explicitly mentioned.