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Mel Woods

Senior editor Mel Woods is an English-speaking Vancouver-based writer, editor and audio producer and a former associate editor with HuffPost Canada. A proud prairie queer and ranch dressing expert, their work has also appeared in Vice, Slate, the Tyee, the CBC, the Globe and Mail and the Walrus.

New Alberta school library standards ban ‘sexually explicit’ books
Censorship

New Alberta school library standards ban ‘sexually explicit’ books

After previously flagging several LGBTQ2S+ titles as “inappropriate,” the province says schools must remove “sexually explicit” books by Oct. 1

July 10, 2025
Summer 2025 is all about the moustache
Fashion

Summer 2025 is all about the moustache

OPINION: But never forget that a silly little moustache will always be a little bit gay

July 9, 2025
Trump’s ban on passport gender marker changes is on hold—for now
Politics

Trump’s ban on passport gender marker changes is on hold—for now

ANALYSIS: A temporary window has opened for trans Americans to get documents that accurately match their gender identity.

July 8, 2025
Introducing Xtra Special—the best of Xtra, straight to your inbox
Inside Xtra

Introducing Xtra Special—the best of Xtra, straight to your inbox

Our new email newsletter will bring you one great story every week

July 8, 2025
China is cracking down on gay fiction and erotica writers
Censorship

China is cracking down on gay fiction and erotica writers

ANALYSIS: Danmei authors say they have been increasingly targeted with arrests and censorship

July 3, 2025
In defence of ‘The Ultimatum: Queer Love’ and its straight host
TV & Film

In defence of ‘The Ultimatum: Queer Love’ and its straight host

OPINION: Netflix’s “The Ultimatum: Queer Love” just wrapped another mess-heavy season. Host JoAnna Garcia Swisher may be the key to the future of queer reality TV

July 3, 2025
Advertisement

Hungary’s prime minister tried to ban Pride. Thousands showed up anyway
Pride

Hungary’s prime minister tried to ban Pride. Thousands showed up anyway

Despite Viktor Orbán’s right-wing populist government banning Pride, Budapest might have just had the largest Pride parade in its history

June 30, 2025
Alberta government will challenge injunction against gender-affirming care ban
Justice

Alberta government will challenge injunction against gender-affirming care ban

ANALYSIS: Egale and Skipping Stone celebrated last week’s injunction ruling as a win for trans rights. But the Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signalled that she plans to battle further in court

June 30, 2025
Zohran Mamdani just showed that Democrats can talk about trans rights and win
Politics

Zohran Mamdani just showed that Democrats can talk about trans rights and win

ANALYSIS: The 33-year-old is set to win the New York City Democratic mayoral primary with a platform explicitly advocating for trans people

June 25, 2025
Attending a protest? Here are 5 things to keep in mind
Activism

Attending a protest? Here are 5 things to keep in mind

ICE raids, conflict in Iran and anti-trans crackdowns are prompting people to take to the streets. Here’s what you should consider before you attend an event

June 23, 2025
Is Labubu a gay icon?
Culture

Is Labubu a gay icon?

The Pop Mart blind box doll fits into a long history of the gay obsession

June 19, 2025
U.S. Supreme Court upholds ban on gender-affirming care for minors
Justice

U.S. Supreme Court upholds ban on gender-affirming care for minors

ANALYSIS: The ruling in the “U.S. vs. Skrmetti” case sets a new precedent for restrictions on trans rights in America

June 18, 2025
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Cole Escola won a Tony. But why are acting awards still so gendered?
Identity

Cole Escola won a Tony. But why are acting awards still so gendered?

The “Oh, Mary!” star became the first non-binary actor to win a lead acting Tony Award

June 12, 2025
Lorde’s “Man of the Year” and the permission to want
Music

Lorde’s “Man of the Year” and the permission to want

Even before I could bring myself to want to be a man, I suddenly found myself as one

June 5, 2025
2025 Pride collections lean heavily into jorts
Pride

2025 Pride collections lean heavily into jorts

ANALYSIS: From American Eagle to Target, many of this year’s Pride offerings are bland on bland

June 3, 2025
Activist groups reportedly gave Alberta list of LGBTQ2S+ books to investigate
Censorship

Activist groups reportedly gave Alberta list of LGBTQ2S+ books to investigate

ANALYSIS: Action4Canada is calling Alberta’s move to investigate “inappropriate” school library books a “massive win”

May 30, 2025
Alberta to create standards for ‘age-appropriate’ school library books
Censorship

Alberta to create standards for ‘age-appropriate’ school library books

Maia Kobabe’s “Gender Queer” and Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home” are among the books flagged as “extremely graphic”

May 26, 2025
Rechie Valdez named Women and Gender Equality and Youth minister
Video

Rechie Valdez named Women and Gender Equality and Youth minister

Valdez will handle gender in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet

May 13, 2025
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