MOSCOW — The Russian State Parliament will hear the first reading of a federal level bill that is designed after a series of regional laws banning so-called "propaganda of homosexualism."

According to a spokesperson for the Putin government, Russian lawmakers have put the measure on the legislative calender for December 19, 2012. The Parliament will consider adopting a national ban on "gay propaganda" similar to those already existing in St. Petersburg and nine other Russian Oblasts (regions).

SAN DIEGO – Uganda’s draconian “Kill The Gays” bill is very much alive and well in Parliament, warns two top LGBT activists from that landlocked African nation.

All Out hosted an international conference call today featuring Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, and Kasha Jacqueline, executive director of Freedom and Roam Uganda.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Madonna will not convicted of "gay propaganda" after a Russian court on Thursday tossed out a lawsuit seeking millions of dollars in damages after the pop superstar spoke up for LGBT rights during a concert in St. Petersburg earlier this year. She had also angered Russian authorities by speaking out in support of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot, whose members were jailed for criticizing the Putin government.

The UN is set to vote whether gay and trans people should be particularly protected from being murdered around the world.

Nations have to decide on Tuesday, Nov. 20, on whether to again condemn state killings which don’t involve the courts, known as extrajudicial executions, and other arbitrary murders.

The United Nations vote also tells countries they have a duty to prevent all kinds of killings if they can and to fully investigate murders which do take place, punishing those responsible. There’s a particular emphasis on honor killings, ‘social cleansing’ and similar deaths.