Dalai Lama says no problem with gay marriage

 The Dalai Lama meets with US Speaker of the House John Boehner at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee, AFP)

Washington - The celibate Dalai Lama has thrown his considerable moral weight behind gay marriage, condemning homophobia and saying sex was fine as long as it was consensual.

Republicans back gay marriage

Denver - Republicans from Western states are expected on Tuesday to urge a US appeals court to rule state bans on gay marriage unconstitutional, an aide said, citing shifts in the cultural standpoints of some conservatives in a broad national debate.