Thousands of people marched through the streets of Manhattan to protest against the killing of a gay man allegedly taunted with homophobic slurs.

Two-thirds of Europe's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are still afraid to show their sexuality in public, and a quarter have been victims of physical or verbal attacks, a European Union report says.

A Northland couple are outraged and hurt at being denied accommodation at the Pilgrim Planet Lodge because of "who we are".

It is for those who appointed her to justify their decision and the process that was followed, writes Rajen Prasad. It is for them to explain their understanding of the contemporary race relations challenges for NZ.

Emaciated and frail, more than 100 men lie on concrete floors of freezing, solitary cells in Guantanamo, silently starving themselves to death.

British historian Niall Ferguson has apologised for remarks suggesting that economist John Maynard Keynes didn't care about future generations because he was gay and childless.

Most New Zealanders had no idea that this island off the bottom of India would be hosting the biennial Commonwealth heads of government meeting, writes Brian Rudman.

Michael Jones has hit back at the critics of former sportspeople being appointed to jobs such as the Race Relations Commissioner and defended Dame Susan Devoy.

Women's refuges are being kept in the dark about the proposed repeal of laws protecting victims of domestic violence.

As a conference this weekend looks at how racism affects Auckland, Susan Edmunds examines the progress we have made and the work left to do.

Some of humanity's daily tragedies stand out because they inflict wantonly futile suffering; others awake the persistent tug of collective conscience.

It has been controversial right from the time of the first pilot project five years ago, but our Government seems set to continue giving aid to the police in Indonesian-controlled West Papua.

"Why should under-25s, with nothing but a desire for a romantic stroll in the park, be driven out for nothing more than the crime of having acute hearing?" asks Brian Rudman.

Gay marriage has been legalised by Parliament - but it is still banned by most of New Zealand's 10 main religions, a new Herald survey shows.

Aquiet, conscientious National MP, Jackie Blue, has made an unusual career move, forsaking Parliament for the Human Rights Commission where she will be the next Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner.

NZ is set become the 13th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. Scroll through our interactive timeline above to see NZ's history of rights for gay people.

Some MPs who have voted against the same-sex marriage bill have not changed their minds on the matter leading up the bill's final reading tonight.

An Eketahuna man who confronted a gay couple on the town's main street, called them poofters and accused them of spreading Aids was yesterday convicted of using offensive language.

New Zealand is expected to become the 13th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage this evening as a bill to amend marriage law comes before Parliament.

Editorial: When the Marriage Equality Bill passes its final vote in Parliament, possibly tonight, it will signify a marked social change.

Labour and the unions have cried foul over the appointment of MP Jackie Blue as the new Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner.

Does equality require same sex marriage? Vote and have your say. Gay unions are inherently different, writes one contributor, while another argues that all love deserves respect.

Dame Susan Devoy admits it will "take time to understand a Maori viewpoint" - and promises her actions as Race Relations Commissioner will speak louder than her words.

New Zealand could play a role in repealing Papua New Guinean sorcery legislation following an Easter "witch-hunt", Amnesty International says.

A victim advocacy group is refusing to remove the name and photo of a convicted paedophile from its website despite an accusation by the Human Rights Commission.