Now that all 31 Mexican states are recognizing gay marriages performed in Mexico City, US political satirist Stephen Colbert jokes that he fears a "gay drain" to Canada and Mexico. 

He also joked that the US is the "straight meat in a big gay sandwich."

If you're in Canada, click here to watch the clip from last night's Colbert Report on the Comedy Network. If you're in the US, you can watch the clip here on Comedy Central. 

Read more:

• Forget the 'brain drain': It's all about the gay gain
• Canadian immigration's outdated requirements
  
• Why more binational couples are coming to Canada
• Poz couples wins immigration case
• Married lesbian couple moved from LA to Halifax to live and love freely
  

In a 136-page ruling, a US federal judge has struck down California's gay marriage ban.

Chief US District Judge Vaughn Walker has declared Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional, as it violates due process and equal protection rights.

From Walker's ruling (read the full version below):

"Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional." 

Follow #Prop8 on Twitter for the latest updates.

Read the full court ruling here: 

Nov 7, 2008 protest in San Francisco, following the passage of Prop 8. (photo by Ingrid Taylor, Flickr, CC 2.0)

Read more of Xtra's Prop 8 coverage:

• Married lesbian couple fights California's Prop 8 through song
• Marriage ruling sparks full day of protests in San Francisco
  
• Canadians rally against Prop 8 as California Supreme Court upholds ban
  
• Protests against Prop 8 continue
• Same-sex marriage vote comes down to wire in California 

At a press event outside Toronto City Hall today, mayoral candidate Rob Ford embraced the endorsement of a fundamentalist Christian pastor who says Pride is "immoral" and suggests that the "moral foundation" of society is being dismantled by gay marriage.

Asked by a reporter if he supports gay marriage, Ford said: "No, I support traditional marriage. I always have, but if people want, to each their own. I'm not worried about what people do in their private life. I look out for taxpayers' money, and to each his own when it comes to what happens behind closed doors."

Ford made the comments at a presser where Rev Wendell Brereton announced that he was dropping out of the mayoral race and throwing his support behind Ford. Brereton is now running for council in Ward 6.

Watch a clip of the event below (Ford's comments about gay marriage start at 1:05):   

While many of our gay friends south of the border fight for same-sex marriage, employment non-discrimination and the right to serve in the military, today marks five years of Canada-wide gay marriage. Canada's federal same-sex marriage bill received Royal Assent on July 20, 2005.

Lots of people are tweeting about the occasion, but other than "cool" and "no apocalypse yet!" it seems folks on Twitter don't have much to say about the anniversary. However, I feel the need to highlight this gem of a tweet:

@StossyStoss - "July 20: The day the 1st man walked on the moon, same sex marriage was legalized in Canada and Lohan went to jail. 3 victories for humanity"

With Argentina legalizing same-sex marriage earlier this month, there are now 250 million people living in places where same-sex marriage is recognized. Blogger Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com recently created this nifty chart:

That blip in 2008 represents California, which briefly had same-sex marriage from June to November 2008. 

So, here's to five years of gay marriage in Canada — and five years of time spent since then focusing on other queer issues. 

Read more: 

• Why most Canadian gays and lesbians are choosing not to marry
• Parliament rejects Harper's motion to reopen debate on same-sex marriage
• Marriage bill passes Commons, just in time for Canada Day
  

Civil marriage commissioners have no right to refuse to wed gay couples, argued lawyer Reynold Robertson in Saskatchewan's top court Thursday.

Reynolds was appointed by the Saskatchewan government to argue against two proposed amendments to the province's Marriage Act, both of which would exempt marriage commissioners from performing same-sex marriages if it goes against their religious beliefs. 

"A government official is entitled to his or her religious belief. It's when they project that religious belief in the form of conduct toward somebody who's (requesting service), that's not right," said Robertson, reports the Winnipeg Free Press.

 

On Thursday, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal also heard submissions from queer lobby group Egale, a religious group and a government-appointed lawyer in favour of the proposed amendments. 

Dale Blenner-Hassett, the lawyer representing the Canadian Fellowship of Churches and Ministers, told the court that anti-gay marriage commissioners are being "unfairly discriminated against," reports the Leader Post.

The court will hear more submissions on Friday. 

Read more about the case:

• Saskatchewan same-sex marriage case heats up