By Insiya Syed KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Even among the colorful cast of mullahs, laborers and idealists standing in Pakistan's elections this Saturday, Bindia Rana stands out. She and a handful of others are the first of Pakistan's transgender "hijra" community - which includes transsexuals, transvestites and others - to register as candidates.

US President Barack Obama called NBA player Jason Collins on Monday to praise his courage after he became the first star in big-time American professional team sports to come out as gay. Collins, currently a free agent who has played for six teams over 12 seasons, made the announcement in a blockbuster article in Sports Illustrated. "The President called Jason Collins to express his support and said he was impressed by his courage," said a White House aide, on condition of anonymity.

Hong Kong's highest court on Monday began hearing the final appeal of a transsexual woman who is seeking to wed her boyfriend, in a potentially groundbreaking case for the Chinese city. The woman, who was born as a man, is known only as "W" under anonymity rules and is now in her 30s. She is seeking to overturn earlier verdicts that said marriage is only allowed between couples who were of the opposite sex at birth.

Hong Kong's highest court on Monday began hearing the final appeal of a transsexual woman who is seeking to wed her boyfriend, in a potentially groundbreaking case for the Chinese city. The woman, who was born as a man, is known only as "W" under anonymity rules and now in her 30s. She is seeking to overturn earlier rulings that said marriage is only allowed between couples who were of the opposite sex at birth.