The latest version of Matthew Rettenmund’s “Encyclopedia Madonnica” is a testament to the power of the Queen of Pop—and a fan’s obsession

Will Simon & Schuster’s conservative bent infect the more welcoming Penguin Random House?

Playing with format and voice, the award-winning Indigenous writer not only makes love with the land—he makes love with language

Plus more of what’s up and on starting Aug. 18

Neil Smith’s tortuous upbringing made “family” the ultimate F word

Plus more of what’s up and on starting Aug. 5

Libraries in Michigan and Iowa have closed due to conservative pushback

A filmmaker, a poet and a visual artist—each embodies the bohemian soul of West Bengal

In “Pretty Baby,” Belcher makes intriguing connections between the patriarchy, capitalism and queerness

Plus more of what’s on and happening starting July 21

In her debut memoir, graphic novelist Emma Grove chronicles her experience navigating the mental healthcare system while trans

In a beautiful new book, artist and designer Adam Nathaniel Furman has co-edited a celebration of places around the world that bring LGBTQ2S+ people together

In this excerpt from his posthumous memoir, the late activist and journalist Gerald Hannon relives the “hooker” headline

In Davey Davis’s “X,” a sadist has their world upended by an elusive sexual partner

The non-binary burlesque performer and “Slag Wars” winner gives Xtra a personal tour of LGBTQ+ London

Laurie Marhoefer’s book on Magnus Hirschfeld looks at the famed German sexologist’s darker side and his relationship with a younger Asian man

Plus more of what’s up and on, starting June 23

How comedian Gina Yashere, once shy about being out, became a Hollywood powerhouse with a little help from “Bob ❤️ Abishola”

Books

Inside the mind of the ‘Encyclopedia Madonnica’ author who can’t stop adding entries (Madge was great in ‘Evita’!?)

How a proposed book publishing merger will further marginalize LGBTQ2S+ authors across the English-speaking world

Joshua Whitehead’s new book of essays is a bold testament to the power of Two-Spirit storytelling

Pulpy romance novels, figurative painting and other culture picks from queer friends

Montreal author Neil Smith mines the tragedy (and dark comedy) of his own life for his heartbreaking new novel

Billy Porter’s directorial debut, queer history and your new favourite song of the moment

A Michigan town defunded its public library over LGBTQ2S+ books

In a city known for its unconventionality, these three queer Kolkata artists manage to stand out

From winning a ‘beautiful baby’ pageant in Appalachia to working as a dominatrix in L.A., Chris Belcher recounts a multifaceted life in her new memoir

Trans youth summer school, Brandon Ash-Mohammed and some queer ADHD tips

‘Third Person’ captures what it’s like to be a trans person with dissociative identity disorder

Queer spaces are, in fact, whatever we damn well declare them to be

‘I hope you’re not going to make too much of this:’ Gerald Hannon recounts how his sex work got splashed all over international media

Set amidst futuristic political turmoil, Davey Davis’s new book unpacks pain and pleasure

Cabaret star Tyreece is the toast of London—and the internet!

One of the world’s first gay rights activists was racist and sexist. The author of a new book explores how much should it bug us

Celebrate Pride with ‘The Annie Sprinkle Project’ and theatre from Bilal Baig

Gina Yashere’s dream was to play a best friend on a sitcom. Now she’s writing for one of TV’s most popular shows and making other people famous