Following a violent protest on January 20–in which police were forced to pepper-spray demonstrators–over the soaring economic crisis facing Iceland, the conservative government resigned early Monday. The chosen replacement for Prime Minister is Johanna Sigurdardottir, an openly lesbian woman. She will become the first female Prime Minister of Iceland and the first openly gay Prime Minister of any country.

Amnesty International is currently fighting a bill in Nigeria that would not only prohibit same-sex marriage, but would impose criminal penalties on those obtaining or witnessing a same-sex marriage.

On the flip side, 3 of the 4 parties of Sweden’s Parliament are in favor of a proposed bill to legalize same sex marriage. The Christian Democrats are the sole opposing party, hoping to separate the bill between granting civil rights and keeping religious leaders from being forced to perform marriage rites. The bill is likely to be accepted in the near future.

In Turkey, the Supreme Court of Appeals has OKed a gay rights group to continue their work in Istanbul. LAMBDAIstanbul was to be closed down after a May decision by a local court on the grounds that the group did not promote “protection of the family and public morality.” LAMBDAIstanbul is the only sanctioned LGBT rights group in the nearly 10 million-populated city.

Lebanese organization Helem was recently commended for their work as the first LGBT rights group in the Arab world by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Unfortunately, this announcement was overshadowed by the recent beating and imprisonment of two gay Lebanese men who were caught having sex by army soldiers. Helem is seeking to have the code punishing homosexual activity repealed.