The government has determined that 6 percent of United Kingdom residents are gay or lesbian, the Telegraph newspaper reported Dec. 11. That’s about 3.6 million people.

Government actuaries calculated the figure to help in estimating the financial impact of the Civil Partnership Act that took effect this month. The act grants registered same-sex couples all the rights and obligations of marriage.

“It is to my knowledge the first time the government has released a figure of this sort, but it does come with caveats,” a Department of Trade and Industry spokesperson told the newspaper. “It is based on a number of studies by different interest groups, but fundamentally there is very little reliable information about the size of the lesbian, gay and bisexual group.”

Four youths were convicted of manslaughter Dec. 14 in the 2004 killing of a gay man near the London gay nightclub Heaven.

David Morley, 37, died in a hospital following the attack by Reece Sargeant, 21, Darren Case, 18, and a 17-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl who were not identified due to their age. Prosecutors said the four also beat and kicked several other people the same evening. They will be sentenced Jan. 23.

Morley was a survivor of the 1999 nail-bomb attack on the gay Admiral Duncan pub, where he worked. Three people died and 73 were injured in that explosion.

A bill to ban same-sex marriage was rejected by New Zealand’s Parliament Dec. 8. The vote was 47-73. The measure also would have prohibited recognition of same-sex marriages from abroad and amended the Bill of Rights Act to specify that any law designed “to promote or advance marriage” was exempt from being found in violation of the act.

A comprehensive civil-union law for same-sex couples took effect in New Zealand eight months ago.

A bill that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and other characteristics passed the Czech Republic’s Chamber of Deputies Dec. 7.

The measure now moves to the Senate and, if passed there, to President Vaclav Klaus for his signature.

The proposed law would apply to education, employment, health care, social benefits and housing. It also would prohibit discrimination related to race, gender, age, physical handicap, language proficiency, religion, political affiliation, family status and union membership.

The legislation received unanimous support from the parties of the governing coalition – the Social Democrats, Christian Democrats and Freedom Union. Most Civic Democrats and Communist deputies voted against it.

Passage of such a law is a requirement for membership in the European Union, which the Czech Republic joined in 2004.

British pop star Robbie Williams won a libel suit in London Dec. 6 against a newspaper and two magazines that claimed he is a secret homosexual who engages in anonymous public sex with other men. The articles appeared in The People newspaper, and Star and Hot Stars magazines.

The publications will print apologies and pay legal costs and more than $350,000 in damages.

Two Nigerian men charged with having gay sex were acquitted by an Islamic court in Katsina, Nigeria, Dec. 7, Agence France-Presse reported.

Kabir Yusuf, 40, and Usman Sani, 18, were arrested and jailed six months ago after being seen leaving a public toilet together adjusting their pants. They faced death by stoning if convicted.

In freeing the two, Judge Mustapha Sani Saulawa said prosecutors had failed to present the required four witnesses to the alleged crime.

A lesbian couple in New Zealand was sent to prison for six and two years respectively Dec. 8 for sexually attacking another woman in their home.

Kristina Rachael Oliver, 33, and Lynette Kaye Stewart, 38, invited the unnamed victim over for coffee in December 2003 then violated her, local media said.

Pop goddess Madonna performed a five-song set at the London club G-A-Y on Nov. 19.

“Two thousand clubbers cheered themselves hoarse,” said London’s Pink Paper. “It was a dream come true for queer fans.”

“I wrote this for you, fuckers,” Madonna said before performing her new single, “Hung Up.”

Promoter Jeremy Joseph, who arranged the appearance, told the Pink Paper: “For a gay audience she is the biggest star in the world. She is the ultimate gay icon.”

Leading Jamaican AIDS activist Steve Harvey, 30, was murdered in Kingston on Nov. 30.

According to police, at least four assailants forced their way into his home when he returned from work around 1:00 a.m. They tied up Harvey and two people staying with him, stole some of their possessions then abducted Harvey in his Jamaica AIDS Support company car. His body was found in a rural area miles from his home with gunshot wounds to the back and head.

As coordinator of targeted interventions for Jamaica AIDS Support, Harvey was responsible for ensuring that GLBTs, sex workers and prisoners had access to HIV information and services. He also served as Jamaica’s representative to the Latin American and the Caribbean Council of AIDS Services Organizations.