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V.S. Wells

V.S. Wells

V. S. Wells is a British writer living in Vancouver, B.C., with bylines in Slate, VICE and Autostraddle. Please stop asking them about Brexit.

8 times Pokémon got pretty freakin’ fruity
Gaming

8 times Pokémon got pretty freakin’ fruity

Gender-fluid Pokémon? Openly trans voice actors? Pokémon is queerer than meets the eye

November 18, 2022
New Tennessee bill banning ‘male or female impersonators’ in public could criminalize drag performers and trans people
Politics

New Tennessee bill banning ‘male or female impersonators’ in public could criminalize drag performers and trans people

The pre-filed bill, which will be taken up next year, would make it a crime to do drag where it “could be viewed by a person who is not an adult”

November 11, 2022
Conservatives are spending millions on anti-trans campaign ads in the U.S. midterms, says HRC report
Power

Conservatives are spending millions on anti-trans campaign ads in the U.S. midterms, says HRC report

25 states have seen anti-trans ads airing, hoping to stop Black and Spanish-speaking voters from voting

November 3, 2022
The ‘anti-woke’ wave in Ontario’s municipal elections was an epic fail
Politics

The ‘anti-woke’ wave in Ontario’s municipal elections was an epic fail

Many school board trustee candidates running on anti-LGBTQ2S+ platforms came up short

October 27, 2022
‘Deeply concerned’: Anti-LGBTQ2S+ candidates are running for school boards across Ontario
Politics

‘Deeply concerned’: Anti-LGBTQ2S+ candidates are running for school boards across Ontario

More than 20 candidates across the province are recycling old dog whistles to attack trans rights

October 24, 2022
‘Splatoon 3’ lets queer chaos reign
Gaming

‘Splatoon 3’ lets queer chaos reign

How did a game about snazzily dressed little squids gain such a devoted queer fan base?

October 20, 2022
Advertisement

Albertan activists on Premier Danielle Smith’s ‘horrendous’ record on LGBTQ2S+ issues
Politics

Albertan activists on Premier Danielle Smith’s ‘horrendous’ record on LGBTQ2S+ issues

Four LGBTQ2S+ activists in Alberta tell Xtra what the new premier may mean for their province and community

October 14, 2022
Alberta’s new premier has an alarming LGBTQ2S+ rights history
Politics

Alberta’s new premier has an alarming LGBTQ2S+ rights history

Danielle Smith refused to condemn a candidate for her Wildrose Party in 2012 after he said LGBTQ2S+ people would suffer in a “lake of fire”

October 7, 2022
Thousands of Virginia students walk out over proposed anti-trans policies
Activism

Thousands of Virginia students walk out over proposed anti-trans policies

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s policies would prevent students from using their correct name or pronouns without a court order

September 28, 2022
‘I Was a Teenage Exocolonist’ plays with genre, gender and growing up
Gaming

‘I Was a Teenage Exocolonist’ plays with genre, gender and growing up

Writer and narrative designer Lindsay Ishihiro explains how queer and trans themes are baked into the genre-busting indie game

September 22, 2022
Organizer’s of this city’s Pride Corner say they’re receiving violent threats
Power

Organizer’s of this city’s Pride Corner say they’re receiving violent threats

Queer activists in Edmonton have been threatened by guns and baseball bats in recent weeks

September 22, 2022
Montana bans trans and intersex people from changing their birth certificates
Power

Montana bans trans and intersex people from changing their birth certificates

The state had previously shifted from a “gender” marker to a “sex” marker, and required surgery for updates

September 15, 2022
Advertisement

‘Curses’ explores the queer magic of owning your darkest feelings
Gaming

‘Curses’ explores the queer magic of owning your darkest feelings

Emily Flynn-Jones’s new semi-autobiographical video game asks players to take big feelings seriously—especially the bad ones

September 1, 2022
Hot trans summer: Celebrating gender expansiveness in the U.K. after a hard year for British trans and non-binary people
London Calling

Hot trans summer: Celebrating gender expansiveness in the U.K. after a hard year for British trans and non-binary people

From Pride marches and non-binary club nights to little-known historical archives, there’s something for everyone in London and environs 

June 30, 2022
Ontario teen arrested after threatening to commit mass shooting at Florida Pride event
Hate Watch

Ontario teen arrested after threatening to commit mass shooting at Florida Pride event

A 17-year-old was arrested after reportedly brandishing a gun and threatening to open fire at a West Palm Beach event

June 9, 2022
LGBTQ2S+ people more likely to access abortion services, new report finds
Reproductive Health

LGBTQ2S+ people more likely to access abortion services, new report finds

Newly released data indicates the impact Roe v. Wade’s repeal would have on queer and trans Americans

June 6, 2022
Queer Vote Ontario releases its report cards ranking the provincial parties’ LGBTQ2S+ platforms
Politics

Queer Vote Ontario releases its report cards ranking the provincial parties’ LGBTQ2S+ platforms

Doug Ford’s party won’t respond to questions about its LGBTQ2S+ platform

May 26, 2022
Canadian Museum for Human Rights makes all restrooms gender-inclusive
Power

Canadian Museum for Human Rights makes all restrooms gender-inclusive

The news follows years of controversies surrounding the Winnipeg museum

May 19, 2022
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