Xtra News Flash

Queer Met Gala looks, censured Montana state rep sues, new drag dinner competition, queer youth mental health, Tony Award noms and Twitter oral sex misinformation

6 queer stories we’re watching: May 2

By Bhagyashree Chatterjee, Phoebe Fuller

Comedy

Intergalactic beauty Juno Birch’s advice for mere mortals

“Delusion is the key to confidence,” says the trans drag alien probing North Americans, er, North America this summer

By Russ Martin

Excerpt

What makes for a good gay cruising grounds

In his new book, “Park Cruising,” author Marcus McCann looks at the forces that triggered a police sting of Toronto’s Marie Curtis Park

By Marcus McCann

Monthly Tune-Up

New music from Yaeji, ZORA, Blondshell, Michael Medrano and more

Behold spring’s bounteous harvest of infectious pop

By Jordan Currie

Xtra News Flash

‘Yellowjackets’ star blasts gendered award categories, Toronto Pride flag protest, U.S. DOJ sues Tennessee, Pedro Pascal gay western trailer drops

5 queer stories we’re watching: April 28

By Maddy Mahoney

Social Media

Substack isn’t the perfect Twitter alternative it wants to be

ANALYSIS: As Substack tries to be the new Twitter, we can’t forget its founders’ messy past or present

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Sports

Paralympian Ness Murby looks to Paris, and a brighter future for trans athletes

“Hopefully, the next person won’t have to fight as much”

By Julia Peterson

Politics

Is it time to kick politicians out of Pride?

Tracking the decades-long hot-and-cold relationship between elected officials and Pride festivals

By Kevin Hurren

Excerpt

Trans resilience shining through a glass darkly

Journalist Tre’vell Anderson’s very personal tour of trans representation in film and TV

By Tre’vell Anderson

Identity

How ‘women’s rights’ activists create language that dehumanizes trans people

OPINION: “Adult” “Human” “Female” is a highly problematic way to identify

By Joseph Osmundson

TV & Film

‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2, Episode 5 recap: Bestie, we hardly knew ye

Our adult survivors start to come together, and a winter storm rocks the cabin

By Mel Woods

Xtra News Flash

Jinkx Monsoon in ‘Doctor Who,’ federal trans sports ban, Florida expands ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ Sam Smith tribute to Brianna Ghey, trans youth in anti-trans states and Sasha Colby’s surprising date

6 queer and trans stories we’re watching: April 21

By Maddy Mahoney

Music

Distance makes the music grow stronger for bicoastal duo Bestfriend

The band’s sophomore EP, “places i’ve left,” tucks our confusing world into a hazy, bedroom alt-pop soundtrack

By Jordan Currie

Tech

Google is still the arbiter of life’s big questions

ANALYSIS: While the algorithm has evolved, it’s still worth considering how search engines respond

By Jon Heggestad

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Music by Lynnee Breedlove and Juba Kalamka, a Charlie Jane Anders trilogy, queer Brit hobby groups and Kit Yan, Melissa Li and Michael R. Jackson in NYC

This week’s gay enticements to engage in queer culture

By S. Bear Bergman

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 8’: Meet the returning queens set to do battle

From Kandy Muse to Jimbo, 12 queens are headed back to the werk room

By Mel Woods

Art & Photography

Archive of intimacies: the photography of Wolfgang Tillmans

You might know his work via Frank Ocean, Douglas Stuart or Kate Moss, but Tillmans’ first major Canadian exhibition is a study in connection

By Owen Torrey

Culture

Judy Blume showed what to do when you get got by the anti-trans machine

ANALYSIS: A journalist seemingly baited Blume into agreeing with J.K. Rowling. Her response should be a model for learned allyship

By Mel Woods