Mexico City's new mayor, Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, has promised to build a gay community center, says Patria Jimenez, the newly elected openly lesbian member of the Mexican Congress' Chamber of Deputies.

"He's an incredible person and among his many plans he has promised us he'll construct the Gay-Lesbian-Transgendered Community Center, a true triumph that really fills us with pride," Jimenez told the Chicago gay magazine En La Vida.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has fined London Mayor Dianne Haskett $10,000 (US$7,100) for refusing to proclaim Gay Pride Weekend in 1995.

Haskett withheld the proclamation because recognizing gays would be "turning my back on God and I can't do that."

The fine will be paid jointly by Haskett and the city to plaintiff Richard Hudler, former president of HALO, the Homophile Association of London, Ontario.

The commission also ordered the city council to issue gay-pride proclamations when asked to, to "make a statement of recognition that the lesbian and gay and bisexual communities are integral and important communities within the City of London," and to "make a commitment to investigate ways of fostering a positive relationship between the City of London and the gay, lesbian and bisexual communities."

South Africa's National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality and the nation's Human Rights Commission will present their case against the nation's sodomy laws before the Rand Supreme Court November 25.

Their job is much simplified by Justice Minister Dullah Oman's recent decision to end his opposition to the repeal efforts.

Anal sex between men is a serious crime in South Africa. The Criminal Procedure Act allows police to shoot men caught engaging in sodomy if they refuse to be taken into custody.

At the same time, South Africa's new constitution is the only one in the world that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation -- which will likely form the basis for a gay-friendly ruling from the court.