Vatican breaks with Italian law after refusing to sign UN sexuality declaration
A new statute coming into effect on January 1st will allow the Vatican to bypass Italian law.
This comes in the wake of a row at the UN, where the Vatican refused to sign up to a universal declaration of human rights regardless of gender or sexuality.
Lawrence King murder suspect denied access to files
14 year old murder suspect Brandon McInerney's lawyers requested that a judge allow them access to files demonstrating how prosecutors decide to try under-18s as adults in court.
McInerney stands accused of shooting classmate Lawrence King in February, who was reportedly openly gay and sometimes wore 'feminine' clothing to school, at a junior high school in Oxnard, California.
Mother fights against ban on sleeping with lesbian partner
Divorcee and mother of two Angel Chandler has approached the Tennessee Court of Appeals to allow her to have her female partner stay overnight.
Ms Chandler, who has been with her partner for almost a decade, is appealing against a child custody restriction known as a paramour clause, in which she is not permitted to have her lover stay overnight if her children are present.
Top legal website predicts gay marriage to be hot topic for 2009
FindLaw, the most-visited legal site on the web, today released its Top Ten Legal Predictions for 2009.
The list is a breakdown of what are expected to be next year's legal hot topics.
Australian equality act inquiry could be delayed until 2011
An Australian Senate committee has recommended an inquiry into the need for an equality act banning homophobic or transphobic discrimination, following complaints to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).
The AHRC is currently unable to protect the LGBT community fully as federal protections do not cover homophobia in the media or commercial services as other forms of discrimination are.
Spanish judge suspended for discrimination against lesbian parents
A Spanish judge has suspended from work after attempting to stop a lesbian adopting her wife's child.
Same-sex couples are permitted to adopt children in Spain, and gay marriage was legalised there in 2005.
Church group discrimination against New Jersey lesbians ruled unlawful
A church group yesterday lost its case to a lesbian couple who it barred from holding a civil ceremony on their property.
Civil unions were introduced in New Jersey after the state Supreme Court's 2006 ruling that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to equal civil rights.
Funding cut at Brighton care home over gay questionnaire row
A Brighton care home for the elderly has been accused of homophobic exclusion by the local authorities.
Pilgrim Homes, a Christian care home which runs 10 projects for elderly people in the UK, is suing the council for religious discrimination.
US federal judge orders Louisiana registrar to recognise out of state adoption
An organisation that furthers gay rights through litigation has hailed a federal court decision on same-sex adoption as "a major victory for same-sex parents."
Mother admits abusing 16-year-old son for being gay
A woman in Scotland has admitted in court that she sent homophobic text messages and shouted abuse at her own child because he is gay.
Ugandan judge rules in favour of LGBT activists and awards damages for illegal raid
Ugandan Justice Stella Arach yesterday issued a ruling in favour of LGBT activists in their suit against the Attorney General of Uganda.
UNAIDS: Decriminalisation is key to universal access to HIV treatment
The United Nations agency responsible for coordinating global efforts to combat HIV and AIDS has called for "enhanced action to promote and protect the human rights of men who have sex with men."
Vatican claims sexual orientation is not legally defined
The Roman Catholic Church's representative at the United Nations has explained why it opposed a statement on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.
Straight man wins "landmark" homophobic harassment case
A 56-year-old married man who was repeatedly taunted at work about being gay because he lives in Brighton has won his case at the Court of Appeal.
California "marriage defenders" want gay unions anulled
Gay and lesbian couples who legally married in California earlier this year are being targeted by supporters of a ballot proposition that removed the right to same-sex marriage in the state.
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