Another Monday means it’s time for Xtra to fill you in on the biggest stories in LGBTQ2S+ news that you might’ve missed over the weekend! This week we’ve got TV, elections and curling, so buckle up for some quick bites of queerness.
1. Madonna confronts anti-LGBTQ2S+ legislation with celebratory show in Nashville
2. The L Word: Generation Q has been cancelled … but another reboot is in the works
3. LGBTQ2S+ Scots are celebrating the election of Humza Yousaf as next first minister
4. Grindr users in Egypt are being targeted by police
5. Halifax hosts the Canadian Pride Curling Championships
1. Madonna confronts anti-LGBTQ2S+ legislation with celebratory show in Nashville
Pop legend Madonna has announced a benefit concert in Nashville, responding in part to Tennessee’s new law that criminalizes drag performances. The show will see Madonna joined by Bob the Drag Queen, with proceeds going to yet-to-be-named trans rights organizations.
“The oppression of the LGBTQ2S+ is not only unacceptable and inhumane; it’s creating an unsafe environment; it makes America a dangerous place for our most vulnerable citizens, especially trans women of colour,” the singer said in a statement. “Also, these so-called laws to protect our children are unfounded and pathetic. Anyone with half a brain knows not to fuck with a drag queen. Bob and I will see you from the stage in Nashville where we will celebrate the beauty that is the queer community.”
2. The L Word: Generation Q has been cancelled … but another reboot is in the works
For superfans, the writing has been on the wall for some time concerning the renewal of The L Word: Generation Q, the reboot of the simultaneously beloved and much-maligned 2000s series. The show follows a group of lesbians in L.A., and features some of the biggest names from the original series—think Shane, Alice, Bette and Tina—as well as a diverse cast of younger queer and trans folks.
But, on Friday, Showtime announced that the show would not be renewed for a fourth season, leaving fans to ruminate on Season 3’s cliffhanger. While many are frustrated with yet another queer show being cancelled, Showtime has left fans with some good news: that another reboot is in the works. This time, we’ll be treated to The L Word: New York, though there’s no further details about when the next cast of Sapphics could grace our screens.
3. LGBTQ+ Scots are celebrating the election of Humza Yousaf as next first minister
Humza Yousaf has been elected the next leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), beating out Kate Forbes by a narrow margin. Forbes, who has previously been criticized for her homophobic and transphobic beliefs, lost by 48 percent to Yousaf’s 52 percent.
Yousaf will replace current first minister Nicola Sturgeon tomorrow, and has promised the country that he will heal divisions in their political landscape. Scotland has been a hotspot for many discussions surrounding trans rights in recent years, with the country’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill (which would have made it easier for trans people in the country to change their legal gender) sparking bitter disagreements in the country. The bill was later vetoed by Westminster, leading to further outrage from the LGBTQ+ community—but Yousaf has stated that he intends to challenge the decision during his term.
4. Grindr users in Egypt are being targeted by police
Folks using popular gay hookup app Grindr in Egypt have received a warning from the app’s makers that police may be impersonating community members in order to target LGBTQ+ individuals in the country. Those logging on while in Egypt will see a message in Arabic and English, alerting them that Egyptian police have been actively arresting queer folks on the app. The message also states that police have taken over social accounts of queer people who have already been arrested who were using the apps, therefore urging users to take extreme caution when meeting anyone online.
Halifax hosts the Canadian Pride Curling Championships
Halifax has welcomed curlers for the Canadian Pride Curling Championships for the first time in a decade, after missing out on their turn to host as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This year, teams of queer curlers competed under witty team names, as groups joined together to celebrate their sport and its accepting community.
The tournament came to an end on Sunday, with Toronto team Team Francis securing the championship. This is Toronto’s fifth national championship win, just behind Vancouver’s lead with six.
Pink Triangle Press, which publishes Xtra, owns the dating site Squirt, which is a competitor to Grindr.
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