Xtra News Flash

White House bans trans activist over topless video, track meet transphobia in Kelowna, Kristen Stewart is making a gay girl stoner comedy, Johns Hopkins criticism and Starbucks Pride decorations

5 queer and trans stories we’re watching: June 14

By Jackie Richardson

TV & Film

‘Blue Jean’ director inspired by the psychic costs of the closet

Georgia Oakley’s feature debut evokes a world where living openly carried great risks

By Rendy Jones

Xtra News Flash

First out non-binary Tony winners, trans cyclist wins gold, N.B. transphobic school rules, Missouri gender-affirming care ban and Troye Sivan teases new music

5 queer and trans stories we’re watching: June 12

By Eve Cable

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8’ Episode 6 power ranking: Studio gals

It took a Rusical to finally spice things up this season, without putting a frontrunner in danger

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8’ Episode 6 recap: Don’t fuck with Joan, fellas

A Rusical challenge puts the season back on the right track

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Black trans town hall, masc films, Manuel Betancourt’s ‘The Male Gazed’ and Cher, Cher, Cher

Plus, for those in Toronto, queer music from NXNE

By S. Bear Bergman

Pride

‘We’re very fearful’: Pride organizers prepare for the worst as they gear up for June festivals

An increase in anti-LGBTQ2S+ hate has forced some events to cancel, while others hire more security and take up emergency training

By Kevin Maimann

Xtra News Flash

House floor RuPaul tribute, Biden’s new LGBTQ2S+ initiatives, Florida con bans ‘cross-dressing cosplay,’ new Vancouver health centre, first trans man judge in U.S. and Sam Smith x Madonna collab

6 queer and trans stories we’re watching: June 9

By Maddy Mahoney

Books

In ‘Pageboy,’ Elliot Page shows us the person being perceived

REVIEW: Elliot Page’s life has been under constant scrutiny since he was a teen. Now he’s opening up on his terms

By Mel Woods

Music

The band Pantayo want ‘honeys to pop the booty on the dance floor’

The Filipinx kulintang ensemble explores explicit desires on their second album

By Jesse Locke

Art & Photography

Meet the artist who turned over 500 drag performers into Lego minifigures

Drag and Lego superfan Brick Queens YVR has been sharing unique “Drag Race” fan art every day for over three years

By Phoebe Fuller

Sports

If MLB wants to support its LGBTQ2S+ fan base, it can’t play both sides

OPINION: Why pitting Christians versus Pride Nights is a terrible “compromise”

By Katelyn Burns

Xtra News Flash

Canada promises $1.5 million for Pride security, Dannii Minogue announces Sapphic dating show, Ukraine civil union law has unlikely supporter, Russia doles out fines for ‘LGBT propaganda,’ and LGBTQ+-only sea shanty choir.

5 queer stories we’re watching: June 5

By Eve Cable

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8’ Episode 5 power ranking: An unfinished journey

One queen barely survives elimination thanks to another’s choice

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8’ Episode 5 recap: Snatched away

A queen makes an unceremonious—and frustrating—exit

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Xtra News Flash

Kim Cattrall returns to the ‘SATC’ universe, Pence is pissed about drag queens, new report on U.K. military homophobia, support for queer rights at an all-time high and Spice Girls owe it all to the gays

5 queer stories we’re watching: June 2

By Maddy Mahoney

Xtra News Flash

Yvie Oddly drags producers, EU’s first openly gay president, another queer dating show, trouble at Florida Gay Days, WGA Pride pickets

5 queer stories we’re watching: June 1

By Phoebe Fuller

Books

Miss Major—legendary activist, elder and Stonewall veteran—tells her story

“Miss Major Speaks” is part biography, part interview and full of Miss Major spitting truths and laying it down like it is

By Syrus Marcus Ware