LONDON – The House of Commons voted today to approve the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill on its third and final reading.

The vote was 366-161.

The bill now goes to the House of Lords, where the issue is far from settled and debate will begin in June. The bill would only apply to England and Wales.

Same-sex marriage has been legalized in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, the Netherlands (and the Caribbean island of Saba), New Zealand (August 2013), Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Uruguay (Aug. 1, 2013).

MELBOURNE, Australia – Retired Episcopal (Anglican) Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire is embarking on a tour of Australia to meet with church leaders at a time when the Down Under nation is debating marriage equality.

Although neighboring New Zealand joined Commonwealth member Canada in approving marriage for gay and lesbian couples, and the British Parliament is scheduled to debate the issue today, Australia has lagged behind.

PARIS -- France becomes the 14th nation in the world to legalize marriage equality, after President Francois Hollande signed the bill into law today.

The first same-sex marriages can be held as early as May 28, 2013 ... but the BBC reported that Parliamentary Relations Minister Alain Vidalies told French TV he expected the first ceremonies to take place "before 1 July."

"Now it is time to respect the law of the Republic," Hollande said, apparently directed at critics who have held violent street protests over the past few months at the nation's lawmakers debated the bill.

Experts and youth from East and Southeast Asia called on the government and other authorities to protect the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people during a forum marking the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) at the University of the Philippines(UP)-Diliman.