NewsWrap for the week ending January 26, 2013

SUMMARY

From Russia, With Hate - LGBT rights activists are assaulted and arrested in Moscow and at least one other Russian city protesting the proposed law to outlaw so-called "homosexual propaganda," which the country's lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approves in its first reading, while Kaliningrad becomes the tenth Russian region to enact a similar law, and Russia's Defense Ministry says the buttocks and genital areas of all new recruits should be closely examined for tattoos, which it says are strong indications of homosexuality …

Political Pre-Nup - U.K. government formally publishes legislation to open civil marriage to gay and lesbian couples in England and Wales …

Broad Agreement, Long Engagement - both major political parties in Malta express support for some form of legal recognition for same-gender couples …

Because It's Good For You - a select committee of the New Zealand Parliament hears testimony about the benefits of marriage equality as part of the legislative process to make it legal …

Three Strikes - Polish lawmakers reject civil unions for lesbian and gay couples …

Judicial Discouragement - the gay couple in Taiwan that had sued for marriage equality announces that they're dropping their case …

As If It Never Even Happened - a court in Beijing rules that women in unhappy marriages with gay men can end them through more socially-acceptable annulment rather than divorce …

Hope Springs Eternal - Rhode Island House overwhelmingly passes a bi-partisan marriage equality bill …

Rock Mountain Pass - Colorado Senate committee passes a civil unions bill along party lines …

LGBTailgate Parties - gay American football fans can root for either team in the upcoming Super Bowl, which features Baltimore Ravens linebacker and outspoken equality ally Brendon Ayanbadejo, and San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who says he'd welcome a gay player on this team ….

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