"An Ontario Superior Court judge is facing calls to decline any future cases involving gay rights after he made controversial remarks at a gay pride festival in Halifax last week. Justice David Corbett told the supportive gathering that most gay rights battles, in his view, had been "won." The comments have raised questions about the judge's impartiality." [East Ottawa]

With marriage and other rights settled, Canadian queers have won most of their big battles, said Ontario-based Judge David Corbett. There are, however, still battles to be won: "And there’s a tension between organized religion — and the right to freedom of religion — and the right for people to be free from discrimination… But I think there’ll still be cases that have to iron out where the boundaries are going to be around those issues." And there's also the messy issue of divorces. [Chronicle Herald]

John McCain yesterday criticized political opponent Barack Obama's speech in Berlin, saying, "I would rather speak at a rally or a political gathering any place outside of the country after I am president of the United States… But that's a judgment that Sen. Obama and the American people will make." McCain must be forgetting his speech in Canada last June. [MSNBC]

"Time is running out for a bisexual woman who has been denied refugee status in Canada. Jane Okojie is scheduled to be deported to Nigeria on Thu, Jul 10 where she says she and her two children will face persecution because of her bisexuality." [Xtra]

"The Vancouver board of education says it plans to enforce a ministry policy that prevents parents from pulling students out of classes that deal with alternative sexuality." [Vancouver Sun]

"A gay married couple from Pointe Claire who say they were harassed by a homophobic teenager have been awarded $15,000 in damages by the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal. Théo Wouters and Roger Thibault had been seeking $37,000 in damages, claiming the initial apology offered by their young tormenter wasn't sincere." Well, the kid is a jerky 17-years old, so do you really expect him to be sincere? [Montreal Gazette]

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]

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]