NewsWrap for the week ending December 6, 2014

SUMMARY

In the Pudding - The European Court of Justice tells all E.U. member nations that they can't require gay and lesbian refugees fleeing persecution in their homelands to "prove" their sexual orientation to get asylum …

All Good … Not - Russian President Vladimir Putin tells the UN that his country is getting a "bad rap" when it comes to LGBT rights, and that recent homophobic legislation merely "protects children" and "the traditional family" – even as applications by Russian LGBT people for asylum in the U.S. skyrocket …

More ISIL Executions - two young men perceived to be gay are stoned to death in separate incidents in Syria by members of the Islamic State …

Crime of Poverty - 167 transgender women are rounded up in the Indian city of Bangalore for breaking anti-begging laws …

Revolt Against Archbishop - thousands of Finns have left the state-sponsored Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland after parliament passes a bill to open civil marriage to same-gender couples …

Will You Marry Us? - Slovakia sets the date for a referendum on marriage equality …

More States, More Cakes - U.S. federal judges overturn marriage bans in Arkansas and Mississippi, and homophobic Florida officials are running out of time to stop lesbian and gay couples from getting married in the "Sunshine State" …

Gratulacje - Robert Biedron becomes Poland's first elected openly gay mayor …

Tuszyn Has Brain - the Polish town of Tuszyn bans depictions of Winnie the Pooh on a new school playground because of his "dubious sexuality" and "bear bottom" ….

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