The German right appears more open to expanding gay rights, with several leaders of the governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU) speaking in weekend interviews of bridging the gap betwee same-sex and heterosexual couples.

The Barack Obama administration took another step toward institutionalizing gay marriage, formally asking the US Supreme Court to strike down a 1996 law defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman.

The Barack Obama administration took another step toward institutionalizing gay marriage, formally asking the US Supreme Court to strike down a 1996 law defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman.

The Barack Obama administration took another step toward institutionalizing gay marriage, formally asking the US Supreme Court to strike down a 1996 law defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman.

A broad coalition campaigning for marriage equality across the United States said Thursday it's sorry that former first lady Laura Bush is unhappy to appear in one of its ads.

Russia expressed "serious worry" Wednesday over the fate of a Russian boy adopted by an American woman who did not reveal that she is a lesbian, Moscow's latest broadside in a growing war of words over adoption.

A dozen elderly women are gathered inside the pink house, set on a narrow dirt road in a dusty suburb of Jakarta. Together they sew, bake and chat.

Germany's highest court ruled on Tuesday that gays in a civil partnership should be allowed to adopt their partners' adopted children, saying they can bring them up as well as couples in a traditional marriage.

Canada's Cardinal Marc Ouellet, a mainstream conservative churchman who once said becoming pope "would be a nightmare", is now widely seen as the North American candidate for the job.

A Cameroonian lawyer who has received death threats for defending gays and lesbians in a country where homosexuality is outlawed has sought refuge with his family in the United States.

With rapid economic growth transforming China, independent filmmaker Cui Zi'en is one of a growing number of directors dodging the censors in order to document the changes through the eyes of some of the most marginalised in Chinese society.

Eight feminists flashed their breasts in the heart of Paris's Notre Dame cathedral on Tuesday to celebrate Pope Benedict XVI's shock resignation announcement.

France on Tuesday came a step closer to legalising gay marriage when the lower house of parliament approved a highly controversial bill allowing same-sex couples to wed and adopt children.

France's National Assembly voted Tuesday to adopt legislation allowing homosexual couples to marry and adopt children, and the law will now go for approval by the upper house of parliament.

Uganda has deported a British theatre producer who last year staged a play about homosexuality, which is illegal in Uganda, the British High Commission said Tuesday.

The Pentagon officially extended some military benefits to same-sex partners Monday, but said provisions like medical coverage would not be offered to gay troops' spouses due to legal barriers.

Ania and Yga have been inseparable for the last 17 years, living together as a couple in the Polish capital Warsaw but their love is seen as second class in this deeply Roman Catholic country.

"I would like to have a mother, but I wouldn't want to lose my two dads," says Frida, a radiant six-year-old Canadian girl unaware of the international controversy raging over gay parenting rights.

The race for the Golden Bear top prize at the 63rd Berlin film festival began Friday with a Polish drama about a gay Roman Catholic priest who struggles with his secret love for a troubled youth.

"I think my friends are a little jealous because I've got two mummies and two daddies and they've only got two parents," says Simon, 6, squirming with his brother Joaquin, 3, on the knees of their four gay parents.