NewsWrap for the week ending March 2, 2013

SUMMARY

Finn Flop - A marriage equality proposal dies in a Finnish parliamentary committee …

And You're Out - three different bills creating civil partnerships for same-gender couples in Poland each fail to survive a first legislative reading …

Hand in Cookie Jar - the UK's most senior Roman Catholic cleric, "Bigot of the Year" Cardinal Keith O'Brien, resigns amidst charges of sexual improprieties with several male priests, but his replacement is equally bigoted …

Calling the Caterers - marriage equality measures, each with strong religious exemptions, pass committee muster in both British and New Zealand parliaments …

With Friends Like These - an avalanche of "friend of the court" briefs, from political leaders to business and labor leaders and professional associations, meet the filing deadline and urge the U.S. Supreme Court to declare California's Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional …

It's Legal, Just Shut Up - Russia's Foreign Minister defends his country's proposed bill to ban "homosexual propaganda" …

Just Saying - a court in Balti, the second biggest city in Moldova, reportedly overturns a local "no homo promo" law as an unconstitutional violation of human rights …

It Ain't Necessarily So - Canada's Supreme Court rules that the inflammatory anti-gay fliers of a "cured by religion" street preacher constitute hate speech …

Meet Marryin' Soham - the new Groom Wanted website in India promises gay men "the freedom to express themselves" ….

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