Family values

Sad how tainted that phrase has become, so ugly, but since four provinces in Canada introduced Family Day, it’s important for queer people to reclaim it — though maybe not as desperately as this:

See, my Family Day involves resting up after a night of dancing and drinking with friends, then taking the dog to the park, calling my niece and dinner with more friends. I like to keep it simple.

But whatever your family looks like — biological, chosen, friends, lovers, fuckbuddies, drag mothers, bowling team or whatever have you — throw some love their way. That’s what it’s all about. Let’s not let our latest statutory holiday become just a right-wing invention designed to focus on a narrow, exclusionary aspect of our rich and vibrant society.

Here’s a video that still makes me laugh because it upset people who thought Spongebob Squarepants could turn kids gay. If only! The only thing this video will do to children is make them laugh and maybe dance. Not a bad way to spend Family Day at all…

A former editor of the late, lamented fab magazine, Scott has been writing for Xtra since 2007 on a variety of topics in news pieces, interviews, blogs, reviews and humour pieces. He lives on the Danforth with his boyfriend of 12 years, a manic Jack Russell Terrier, a well-stocked mini-bar and a shelf of toy Daleks.

Keep Reading

Mya Foxx with an up arrow behind her; PM with a down arrow behind her

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 6, Episode 3 power ranking: Big Sister

Social strategy comes into play in a big way—but does it pay off?
Icesis Couture and Pythia behind podiums

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 6, Episode 3 recap: Pick your drag poison

Season 6’s top 11 queens get to choose their own adventure: Snatch Game or design challenge?
The cover of Casanova 20; Davey Davis

Davey Davis’s new novel tenderly contends with the COVID-19 pandemic

“Casanova 20” follows the chasms—and—connections between generations of queer people
Two young men, one with dark hair and one with light hair, smile at each other. The men are shirtless and in dark bedding.

‘Heated Rivalry’ is the steamy hockey romance we deserve

The queer Canadian hockey drama packs heart and heat, setting it apart from other MLM adaptations