Anglicans in Canada and the United States are pushing ahead with local procedures for blessing lesbian and gay people in the church. The US Episcopal Diocese of California has authorised the use of three trial rites for same-sex unions.

Gene Robinson, an openly gay US Anglican bishop whose 2003 consecration has deeply divided worldwide Anglican Communion, says African critics who describe homosexuals as "worse than beasts" are using the kind of language once employed in the United States to justify slavery.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has said that the churches of the Anglican Communion must be safe places for gay and lesbian people.

A group of Christian churches have failed to persuade the Tobago House of Assembly to join the call for a boycott of Elton John's appearance at the Plymouth Jazz Festival in late April.

A coalition of Catholics, Anglicans, evangelicals, Conservative peers and judges failed last night to halt the progress of the Sexual Orientation Regulations. Gay Christians are delighted.

Last year Sir Elton John said religion was bigoted and should be banned. Now anti-gay residents of Tobago want him banned from attending a music festival. The contest looks to be a non-event.

Giles Fraser laments the unlikely alliance between some vociferous atheists and religious fundamentalism

A law in Nigeria that would impose brutal penalties on shows of affection between lesbian and gay people, or even on those who would advocate for lesbian and gay people, has been condemned by more than 250 Christian leaders from the US.