There may soon be some trouble in Canada, where a Lutheran Pastor will soon ordain Lionel Ketola, a man in a gay marriage: “Pastor Dawn Hutchings says about 50 clergy from across the country will celebrate the ordination of Lionel Ketola this Friday in Newmarket, Ont… Bishop Michael Pryse has warned that the ordination is a “serious breach” and could do “irreparable damage” to the fabric of the national church body.” [The Star]

El Salvadoran national Joaquín Ramirez - an HIV positive gay man - is set to return home Thursday after the Canadian government denied his asylum plea. Ramirez alleges that three federal cops beat and raped him prior to his great escape and he fears retribution if sent back. “…I am sure that I will be assassinated if I go back. There have been four men who have come to my sister’s home in a car and have parked outside her house. They have asked my little niece if I had come back yet and they have also called my sister and told her that they were going to kill me.” Canadian officials reportedly doubted Ramirez’s claims. [Xtra]

Audrey Vachon filed a discrimination suit against Canadian bar Le Stud last year after the booted her for being a woman. Well, the two parties have reached a settlement, but neither will comment on the terms, nor will the bar comment on whether it’s eased its vaginal regulations, which a human rights commission encouraged it to do… [Montreal Gazette]

Journalist Andre Picard offers his two cents on his nation’s ongoing gay blood donor debate. As in the States, Canadian officials continue to prohibit homo men from contributing to the blood bank. Picard does not approve: Giving blood is not a right.

The overriding responsibility of blood collection and distribution agencies is not to ensure all Canadians are allowed to join in this altruistic act, but to ensure the safety of blood and blood products for recipients.
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At the same time, these agencies must strive to ensure there is an adequate supply of blood, which saves the lives of thousands upon thousands of people each year. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

The Canadian government has denied a gay El Salvador national’s asylum claim. Joaquin Ramirez alleges three coppers raped him in 2006 and he fears for his life if forced to return home. The government, however, does not seem convinced and wants to send him back. And here we thought the Canadians were progressive… [Toronto Star]

Canada yanked several anti-gay song from their iTunes roster. [Xtra]

Gay Canadian Senator Nancy Ruth does not accept Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski’s apology for his anti-gay comments back in the 90s. Said Ruth: “Apologies are never enough. There always needs to be action.” Not according to PM Stephen Harper. [Niagara Falls Review]

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper knows how to play pussy and politics. While he chides anti-gay MP Tom Lukiwski for his anti-gay comments, Harper’s quick to tell the press - and the public - to accept his party peer’s apology: Harper said a Conservative MP has apologized for “completely unacceptable” anti-gay comments he made almost two decades ago and will not be disciplined.
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In the House of Commons on Monday, Harper said the MP has given an “unqualified” apology and demonstrated remorse for his comment.

“I believe that when such apology and remorse is sought from an individual member, the generous and high-minded thing to do is to accept that apology,” Harper said in response … Continued…

Canadian politico Tom Lukiwski sure knows how to trash talk. Or is talk trash? Regardless, this 1991 video of the conservative MP definitely qualifies as garbage. Globe and Mail explains:
The video was taped in 1991, inside the Progressive Conservative campaign headquarters of Grant Devine who was making an unsuccessful bid for re-election as Saskatchewan premier. It was released by the Saskatchewan NDP Thursday, after it was found in an office.

It features several shots of a young staff clowning around. In it Mr. Lukiwski tells the camera: “There’s A’s and there’s B’s. The A’s are guys like me. The B’s are homosexual faggots with dirt on their fingernails that transmit diseases.” He obviously doesn’t … Continued…

The gay Anglican war in Canada rages on - and it’s getting nasty. “In New Westminster, a dozen conservative clergy have been denounced by their opponents as ’schismatics.’” Feh, we’ve been called worse. [Economist]

Canadian gay boys just love the doctor. Alright, maybe not, but they’re definitely paying their physician more visits, according to a recent survey of 346,000 adults: About 29 percent of gay men consulted a medical specialist in the 12 months prior to the survey, compared with 19 percent of heterosexual men, while 8 percent of gay men consulted a psychologist, compared to 3 percent of heterosexual men.

Seventy-seven percent of lesbians had seen a family doctor in the 12 months before the survey, compared with 83 percent of heterosexual women.

An estimated 65 percent of gay men and 63 percent of lesbians reported their health as excellent or very good — almost identical to heterosexuals. … Continued…

Canadian immigration officials denied asylum for Malaysian national Kulenthiran Amirthalingam last week. They didn’t buy his claim that he’s a queer. Couldn’t they conduct a simple cocksucker quiz? [Vancouver Sun]

21-year old Adamo Ruggiero first became a gay icon at age 16. Too bad the Degrassi: The Next Generation actor hadn’t yet come to terms with his own homosexuality. In fact, it wouldn’t be until this year that Ruggiero - who has a long history of extracurricular activism - would come out to the public.

The part-time film student and full-time artist recently gabbed with our editor about the pros and cons of playing Marco Del Rossi, why Canadians don’t care about celebrity and how his acting experience gave him a new view of the U.S.
Continued…

A 60-year old Christian counselor has been found guilty of sexually abusing a man who came to him for guidance. The 29-year old hoped to repress his sexuality, but the counselor preferred fondling and bizarre role playing, like pretending to be Jesus and getting beaten if the patient masturbated too much. Totally queer. [Winnipeg Sun]

Mohamed el-Attar may get a sequel to last year’s Spy Gaymes!. The Egyptian Canadian has been held in Egypt since last February, when the nation accused him of spying for Israel. Mr. el-Attar denied the claims and his lawyer now says the 32-year old could be saved from the torturous prison if someone would just pay for his appeal. The lawyer, Ibrahim Basyouni, also wagged a finger at the Canadian government, who “abandoned the case”. Basyouni has apparently never heard of pro-bono. [Globe & Mail]