Fridae

Barilla, one of the best known pasta brands around the world, has found itself in hot water after its president said in an interview this week that the company wouldn't feature same-sex couples in his commercials because he prefers the "classic" family.

Meet the five Mr Gay Hong Hong finalists: Edward Chao, Tommy Leung, Anthony Pura, Ernest Kam and Michael Morrill. Vote for who you think should be crowned Mr Gay Hong Kong 2013 on 19 October!

Gay actor Jim Parsons won the Emmy for lead actor in a comedy series for his role in The Big Bang Theory for the third time while Modern Family's winning streak continued for its fourth year; Behind The Candelabra won three awards at the the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night.

Bangladesh rejects United Nations recommendation to decriminalise its anti-gay sex law at the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva last Friday.

Dozens of Italian lawmakers locked lips in support of a measure to prevent anti-LGBTQ discrimination during a parliamentary debate last week.

The Thai Ministry of Justice announced that it would work with the House of Representatives Committee on Laws, Justice and Human Rights to push draft legislation on civil unions for same-sex couples.

A Singapore court has denied the application by a Singaporean gay couple to have a Queen’s Counsel represent them in their appeal against the dismissal of their challenge to section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises sex between men.

As gay pride parades in Asia and around the world become increasingly mainstream and attract corporate sponsorship, community members often disagree on what sort of image the events should present to the public. Aditya Bondyopadhyay, a gay rights activist and member of the Delhi Pride Committee, says recent events in the US have affirmed his group's decision to not take on corporate sponsors.

The LGBTI community in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, now has its own community centre which was built with financial assistance from the Nepal government, Norwegian government, Danish Embassy, US Embassy, and contributions from community members from in and outside the country.

With over 35 events planned, Hong Kong's Pink Season looks set to be Asia's largest LGBT cultural festival spanning over two months from September 12 to November 10, 2013.