Fridae

The BBC's decision to feature a supporter of state-sponsored execution of gay men as the sole commentator for its story about the birth of a surrogate son to Elton John and his partner has sparked a debate about the extent of an anti-gay viewpoint being necessary for a news report – involving a gay person or issue – to be balanced.

Following recent reports that the Islamic Development may take stern action against Azwan Ismail who came out in a YouTube video, a spokesperson now says the organisation has "no power to take legal action."

Staff at Melbourne's The Peel Hotel may not ask potential patrons to state their sexual orientation before allowing them to enter.

Uganda's notorious Pastor Martin Ssempa is one of eight anti-gay Christian activists who have been charged for allegedly conspiring to blackmail and injure the reputation of another pastor by accusing him of sexual assault of another man.

A gay man, who was attacked outside a gay bar in downtown Austin, Texas and in the presence of at least 20 onlookers – some of whom are likely to be gay men, say he is shocked that no one tried to help him and his friend.

UN member states voted on Tuesday to restore a controversial reference to sexual orientation in a resolution against the unjustified killing of minority groups after it was removed last month at the urging of Arab and African nations.

Azwan Ismail’s video clip on YouTube has attracted over 140,000 views and a flurry of discussions online – a majority of which are negative including online death threats – since it was launched last Wednesday. Two new videos released this week features university student Kavidha and Pastor Joe Pang.

Tan Eng Hong was fined S$3,000 by a district court for performing fellatio on another man in a public toilet.

Seksualiti Merdeka's second video in a series of 15 features Azwan Ismail, an engineer, poet, writer and editor of LGBT anthology Orang Macam Kita who shares that although it had taken him a long time to come to terms with his sexuality, he can now say "Saya gay, saya OK. (I’m gay, I’m OK.)"

Organisers say a recent double suicide case involving two lesbian students and another which occurred 16 years ago highlight the inadequacies of Taiwan’s gender diversity education, and calls on the government to address the issue not just through legislation or school-based policies but public education campaigns.