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

Josh Silver

‘Fruit Fly’ author Josh Silver has a sweet tooth—and the summer’s buzziest book

The English writer talks the duality of social media, how nursing helped his draft—and the cost of massive success

How ‘North of North’ is introducing Indigenous queer dramedy to a global stage

Actors Anna Lambe and Zorga Qaunaq on learning about forgiveness and queerness through their award-winning show
Barbara Hammer

Barbara Hammer’s endless influence

The lesbian filmmaker made a radical difference by making work that reflected her real life. A new documentary is cementing her legacy
Collage with two hands holding a bat, swinging towards a baseball with a dollar sign on it, against a blue background with a net, baseball player and the Olivia logo on an outfield sign

Why the WPBL partnering with a lesbian travel company matters

Support from lesbian brands and bars harks back to the queer history of women’s sport leagues
Advertisement