Fridae

Siew Kum Hong, a former Nominated Member of Parliament who came under fire for presenting a petition which sought to repeal the law that criminalises gay sex in Parliament in 2007, tells Fridae about what winning the second Dignity Prize means to him.

A masked gunman walked into community center on Saturday night and "fired all over the place", killing a 16-year-old teen and 26-year-old youth counsellor.

Just days ahead of Saturday's same-sex marriage right rallies to be held in its seven capital cities, PM Kevin Rudd says that his government will not change its stance in only recognising marriage as being between a man and a woman.

After three men were reportedly attacked last Friday in what has been classified a hate crime, an athlete has been treated for his injuries after a man fired two explosives at a track and field event on Tuesday.

Australians in the capital cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and Canberra will take to the streets on Aug 1 to demand equal marriage rights for all regardless of sex and sexual orientation.

Singapore's fifth gay pride season is back with a bumper crop of events, and the announcement of the winners of the inaugural Rascals Prize and 2nd Dignity Award.

In an unexpected move, Dr Thio Li-ann who has vehemently defended her right to hold anti-gay views while being a human rights instructor, has reportedly cancelled her visit to New York University (NYU) Law School to teach.

India's Supreme Court has refused to temporarily suspend a lower court's verdict legalising gay sex among consenting adults while it hears two petitions seeking to have the high court's decision overturned.

32 people were detained after testing positive for methamphetamine at a club, described by local press as being "packed with about 500 patrons, mostly men dancing in an erotic manner."

Tom Duane's hair-raising speech at 3am last Friday morning in the New York Senate chamber - in support of a bill that will cap housing costs for people living with HIV/AIDS - has made waves in the blogosphere.