North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday defining marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman, becoming the latest state to effectively slam the door shut on same-sex marriages. Full story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/08/amendment-one-north-carolina_n_1501308.html

US President Barack Obama has ended months of hedging on the issue of gay marriage by saying he thinks same-sex couples should be able to wed. He has become the first sitting US president to back gay marriage.   Full story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18014102

A pill that has long been used to treat HIV has moved one step closer to becoming the first drug approved to prevent healthy people from becoming infected with the virus that causes AIDS. Full story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/08/truvada-hiv-prevention-fda-drug_n_1500570.html?ref=fb&ir=Gay+Voices&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Against Me! singer Tom Gabel reveals plans to begin living as a woman in the new issue of Rolling Stone. Gabel, who has dealt privately with gender dysphoria for years, will soon begin the process of transition, by taking hormones and undergoing electrolysis treatments.   Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-gabel-of-against-me-comes-out-as-transgender-20120508#ixzz1uONRsL93

A bill to allow same-sex civil unions is winding its way through the Colorado legislature and may be passed before the end of the session on Wednesday, May 9. Full story here: http://www.xtra.ca/blog/national/post/2012/05/06/Colorado-close-to-passing-civil-unions-bill.aspx