Couples kiss during the Athens gay pride parade last June. Last month, activists organized a "kiss-in" during a church service run by a Greek Orthodox bishop who has threatened to excommunicate politicians supporting same-sex unions. Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Gigi Chao (right) daughter of Hong Kong property tycoon Cecil Chao, poses with her partner, Sean Eav, at an event in Hong Kong. AP hide caption
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring speaks at the Virginia Capitol in Richmond on Dec. 18. Herring's announcement Thursday generated strong partisan responses. Steve Helber/AP hide caption
Hawaii's Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the special session on gay marriage at the Hawaii Capitol in Honolulu in September. The session will begin Monday, Oct. 28. Oskar Garcia/AP hide caption
The Pentagon said Wednesday that it will extend benefits to same-sex spouses of service members and civilian employees. AFP/Getty Images hide caption
In Montpellier, France, Vincent Autin (center) and Bruno Boileau, with Mayor Helene Mandroux, are married in a civil ceremony on May 29. They were the first same-sex couple to marry in France after the government voted to legalize gay marriage. Claude Paris/AP hide caption
Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins, right, faces a retention vote Nov. 6. Charlie Neibergall/AP hide caption
Rebel Libyan fighters sit on an anti-aircraft battery outside a military base in Benghazi, eastern Libya, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. Kevin Frayer/AP hide caption