It can be challenging to hear an opposite point of view. When that opinion is vehement and hurtful, it's even more challenging to defend the right of that opinion to be expressed.

There are limits, of course, but Pastor Stephen Boissoin has not crossed them — yet.

Boissoin is the former Executive Director of Concerned Christians Canada Inc. Back in June 2002, a Red Deer, Alberta newspaper published his fiery letter.

What does the United States, one of the most powerful countries on earth, have in common with Cameroon, China, Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Sudan and Zimbabwe?

I'll save you the head-scratching.

The U.S. sided with these countries in voting against allowing two gay and lesbian groups to join a United Nations (U.N.) forum.

America, supposedly the world's biggest defender of freedom and democracy, shamefully allied itself with another “champion” of human rights — Iran — in order to silence queer voices.

Late last month, the U.S.

It's an interesting quirk of history that Canada and the United States, neighbouring countries who share the world's longest undefended border, celebrate their national holiday within days of each other.

Circumstances brought me to Washington, D.C. just prior to Canada Day and the trip was thought-provoking.

I exercised enough restraint while riding on a tour bus in D.C. to avoid creating a diplomatic incident. The narrator on the tour bus asked passengers if they knew how the White House got its name.

Yesterday was the annual “National Coming Out Day.” It's mostly underlined in the United States but in Canada, a handful of student groups and other organizations mark it, usually without much fanfare.

Does this point to significant culture differences between Canada and the U.S.? Perhaps.

A quick overview suggests that Canada has a greater percentage of openly gay and lesbian elected officials, per capita, than the States.

A couple of scientists in the UK could have saved money and enjoyed a couple of nice trips by visiting penguins in Bremerhaven, Germany and swans in Boston, Massachussetts.

The results of their “travel-study” might not have had the same depth but their main conclusion is among the plumage of our feathered aquatic friends.

Dr. Glenn Wilson of the Institute of Psychiatry and Dr.

December 6, 1989. Some readers will not need more details to know the significance of this date. They will recall with mortification and sadness the horrible killings that occurred on that day.

On December 6, 16 years ago, a disgruntled and crazed gunman violently vented his misogyny on the campus of Montreal's Ã0/00cole polytechnique, a postsecondary institution focused on sciences.

Armed with a rifle and blinded by deep anger towards women, Marc Lépine, killed 14 young female engineering students.

Ageing is not always easy. As if wrinkles and arthritis weren't bad enough, you might have to hide your identity.

Earlier this month, two McGill University researchers released a study which shows gay and lesbian seniors face huge obstacles when seeking adequate health care.

From 2003 to this past January, 90 people were interviewed in Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax.

Montreal was recently in the hearts of several thousand LGBT activists and athletes but also, on the minds of politicians — especially one who was loudly boo-ed by an entire stadium!

Québec's largest city hosted the first ever OutGames, a second LGBT “Olympics” which drew over 12,000 athletes.