A gay man who murdered a teenager and dismembered his body has lost an appeal to clear his name. William Beggs, 46, became known as the ‘Limbs in the Loch’ killer for the murder of 18 year-old Tesco worker Barry Wallace in December 1999.

California senator Roy Ashburn was heckled in 2005 at an anti-gay marriage rally by gay campaigners who knew he was in the closet. They shouted: “We know you’re one of us, Roy!”

Cuba has begun paying for trans men and women to have gender reassignment surgery. Mariela Castro, the daughter of President Raul Castro and niece of former leader Fidel, confirmed to reporters yesterday that the country began paying for the procedures in 2008.

With eight weeks until the expected general election date, has the promise of a fresh government persuaded you to vote Conservative? We want to know who our readers want in charge of Britain and how important LGBT-friendly policies are when voting.

The Washington Post’s internal ombudsman has unequivocally defended the newspaper’s decision to carry a front-page photo of a gay couple kissing. He received complaints and homophobic slurs from some readers.

Although research has found that circumcision may help cut HIV infections, a new study suggests it may not have much effect on gay men.

The seventh Brighton Equality Walk will be held on Sunday May 2nd. The walk, organised by gay rights charity Stonewall, attracted 400 people last year and raised more than £50,000, which went towards funding the anti-bullying film FIT.

Out gay actor Sir Ian McKellen is supporting an anti-hate project by a group of gay and lesbian Merseyside teenagers which is being rolled out to 100 schools and youth centres across Liverpool.

Gay US singer Adam Lambert has said he is happy to be out and proud. He also hit back at Kiss star Gene Simmons, who suggested Lambert had “killed” his own career by coming out.

A film to tackle homophobic bullying is to be sent to every school in Scotland. FIT, produced by Stonewall, features six teenagers, some of whom are gay, at a dance club. It has been compared to television shows Glee and Skins.

Television shows and films with gay characters could miss on tax credits in Florida for not being “family-friendly”. Lawmakers in the state have been coy over the meaning of the phrase “non-traditional family values”.

Veteran US broadcaster Barbara Walters has said that asking Ricky Martin to confirm whether he was gay was “inappropriate”. She now believes it could have damaged his career in the US.

Will & Grace actor Sean Hayes has confirmed he is gay – adding that he was “never in” the closet. The star, who played gay character Jack McFarland in the sitcom, has been criticised in the past for not declaring his sexual orientation.

The first gay couples to marry in Washington DC held their ceremonies today. They were able to apply for marriage licences last Wednesday and, due to a mandatory waiting period, the first ceremonies were set to take place today.

A Catholic priest has apologised after joking that marriage is not for “Adam and Steve” in a sermon. Reverend Frank Wainwright, 48, a deacon at St Gregory’s Church in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, made the quip at a Sunday service when discussing commitment.