The Cameroonian authorities must end the persecution of gays and lesbians and repeal laws that criminalize consensual same-sex relations, five human rights organizations said today in an open letter to Paul Biya, the president of Cameroon.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch joined the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), L’Association pour la Défense des Droits des Homosexuel(le)s (ADEFHO) and Alternatives Cameroun in urging the government to release all individuals detained under the discriminatory law.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has voiced some support for gay rights, but stopped short of endorsing gay marriage or adoption.

Aquino made the comments during a visit to New York, where same-sex unions were legalised in July.

The Philippines has a vibrant gay scene and a gay political party which has been pushing for an anti-discrimination bill for 11 years.

But the Roman Catholic Church remains opposed to the Bill, claiming it will open the door to gay marriage.

A number of expat Cuban websites, such as EU-funded Cuba Encuentro, are reporting the death in police custody in Havana of a trans man on Sept. 8.

A Mexican lawyer and gay activist is facing 14 months in prison for defending a victim of homophobia. In 2009 Jaime López Vela was physically assaulted and then arrested and charged with "insult to police and obstruction on the road" by police in the State of Mexico (in South-Central Mexico) on the orders of State authorities.