Gay rights advocates say this is a milestone for equality despite strong opposition from Christian lobby groups.

BBC: New Zealand to vote on legalising gay marriage

In some of these cases, Commerce approved the technology transfers involved despite strong opposition from the Defense Department.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | Will Congress Restore US Technology Security? Export Controls�� Imminent Moment Of Truth

Tuesday's primary saw former state Rep. Randy Graf, a conservative and strong foe of illegal immigration, win despite strong opposition by the retiring GOP incumbent, Jim Kolbe, as well as national party leaders.

NPR: A Super Tuesday for Lincoln Chafee

The issue of bankers' bonuses could spark a lively debate after the EU agreed a provisional deal to cap bonuses at one year's salary, despite strong opposition from the UK, which hosts Europe's biggest financial services centre.

BBC: Eurozone confident on Cyprus bailout

Despite their strong opposition to fracking, few environmentalists seem to understand very well how the process actually works.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

Blair committed UK forces to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 despite strong domestic opposition to British involvement.

CNN: Blair 'not concerned' over release of Iraq secrets

Despite the strong Democratic opposition to the bill, Frist, R-Tennessee, praised it as a bipartisan effort.

CNN: Senate passes Medicare bill

The case is so strong that, despite vast public opposition to Medicare cuts, policymakers of all stripes in Washington favor them.

FORBES: On Medicare, the American Public Is Dangerously Out of Touch with Reality

Strange how the Catholic church can muster such a strong organized opposition so quickly to contraceptives (despite the fact the pope calls health care a basic human right.) Yet they took decades to start cleaning their own messes with child sex abuse.

FORBES: The Big Problem With Obamacare: It Doesn't Help Many