International Gaze

British media reported earlier this month that the government is preparing to erase some of the last remaining distinctions between gay partnership and traditional marriage – allowing gay couples to tie the knot in churches in ceremonies that may be officially known as marriages.

Britain’s Home Office declined comment on the reports, but indicated that an announcement would be made soon.

Israel has put a stay on plans to expel the German partner of an Israeli killed in a 2009 shooting at a community center in Tel Aviv.

Thomas Schmidt, 27, began the bureaucratic process of registering himself as the partner of an Israeli citizen in 2008. But less than a year later, a masked gunman opened fire at a meeting of gay and lesbian youth and killed two Israelis, including Schmidt’s partner, Nir Katz, 26.

The Czech government on Dec. 8 rejected EU criticism of its use of a test on gay asylum seekers.

The Vienna-based European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights said the Czech Republic is the only known EU country to use so-called “phallometric testing.” The method tests whether men seeking asylum on the grounds of homosexuality are sexually aroused by heterosexual pornographic material.

A prominent Botswana politician is defending anti-gay comments he made, despite criticism from rights groups in the southern African country.

Deputy Speaker Pono Motloadi disparaged gays late last month during a meeting organized by AIDS groups on the subject of preventing the spread of HIV in prisons. In an interview this week with The Associated Press, he called homosexuality “a culture away from our culture.”

As the world marked Human Rights Day on Dec. 10, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon called for an end to laws around the world that criminalize homosexuality, stressing the need to pay more urgent attention to gay and gender identity rights.

“Today, many nations have modern constitutions that guarantee essential rights and liberties. And yet, homosexuality is considered a crime in more than 70 countries,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. “That is not right.”

A leading international gay rights group has demanded an apology from the head of the organization that sponsors the World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Dec. 13 that gay fans “should refrain from any sexual activities” during the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where homosexual behavior is illegal. Blatter contends that he was joking.

Poland’s governing party has reprimanded a lawmaker in its ranks for an anti-gay remark and moved to punish him.

Tomasz Tomczykiewicz, Civic Platform’s parliamentary leader, condemned the recent remarks by Robert Wegrzyn, calling them “stupid” and “irresponsible.” He filed a formal complaint demanding that Wegrzyn be punished and fined.

“Hang them,” read the Ugandan tabloid headline published with a photo of David Kato and other gay rights activists.

The 42-year-old was fatally beaten with a hammer on Jan. 26.

The Brazilian government says gay couples in a stable relationship are entitled to the same social security pension benefits enjoyed by heterosexual couples.

The Social Security Ministry says in a recent statement that the gay spouse of a retiree who dies will now be able to receive the pension payments once received by his or her companion. The policy covers formally registered workers who pay monthly social security fees.

Some Roman Catholics are confused. Some are angry. Others just don’t believe the pope meant what it seems he said.

Days after the release of Pope Benedict XVI’s comments that condoms can be justified to prevent the spread of HIV, there is widespread confusion about exactly what he was trying to say. The remarks have put some of the strictest defenders of church teachings in the awkward position of potentially disagreeing with the pontiff.