January A positive step The longstanding ban on HIV+ travellers entering the USA was officially lifted. The 22-year old ban, which dated back to the widespread fear and ignorance which surrounded the early days of the AIDS epidemic, kept out thousands of travellers and asylum seekers, and made it impossible to host international AIDS conferences in the 'States. February Gone too soon Gay British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was found dead in his London home, reportedly after becoming depressed following his mother's death. McQueen won numerous awards for his unconventional fashion designs and was known for his shock tactics in producing dramatic looks, earning him the nickname 'the hooligan of British fashion'. He famously dressed Rihanna, Bjork and Lady Gaga, among many other celebrities. March Constance McMillen takes on her school A Mississippi federal court ruled school officials violated Constance McMillen's First Amendment rights when it cancelled the high school prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. "All I ever wanted was for my school to treat me and my girlfriend like any other couple that wants to go to prom," the teenager said after the ruling. April A dog's breakfast A restaurant that refused a blind man entry because a waiter thought his seeing-eye dog was "gay" was ordered to apologise and pay compensation. Ian Jolly was reportedly told he could not take guide dog Nudge into Adelaide's Thai Spice last May because a member of staff objected. The owners of the restaurant claimed it was a misunderstanding, which arose when staff thought Jolly's dinner companion said she wanted to bring 'a gay dog' into the restaurant. In a statement to the South Australia's Equal Opportunity, the owners bizarrely said: "The staff genuinely believed that Nudge was an ordinary pet dog which had been desexed to become a gay dog." May Bed? Breakfast? Sure, as long as you're not gay A British gay couple took legal action against the Christian owners of a Bask and do tell! President Barack Obama signed a law ordering the US armed services to allow gay men and women to serve openly after the measure finally passed through Congress and the Senate. "No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie, or look over their shoulder in order to serve the country they love," Obama said. Coming out, tying the knot, having babies Are Bert and Ernie gay? Latin pop singer Ricky Martin surprised nobody when he revealed he was a "fortunate homosexual man", while Will GayNZ.com forum. Jacqui Stanford - 28th December 2010