Meet the queer voices taking the Canadian Country Music Awards by storm

Slowly but surely, things are improving for queer Canadians in country music

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 3: ‘After the Sashay’ with Vivian Vanderpuss

This week’s eliminated “Canada’s Drag Race” contestant talks religion, non-binary fashion and why drag kings should be on “Drag Race”

By Russ Martin

Books

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

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

By Stephenie Magister

Power

Growing up trans in ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Newfoundland

For one trans woman, watching the spread of U.S. legislation targeting trans youth brings back painful memories

By Rhea Rollmann

Canada’s Drag Race

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 3, Episode 8 power ranking: ‘Burning glances, turning heads’

Who came out the best after the Masquerade Ball?

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Canada’s Drag Race

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 3, Episode 8 recap: Ball is life

“Masquerade! Look around—there’s another mask behind you!”

By Kevin O’Keeffe

TV & Film

Four queer Canadian directors talk bringing grit and glitter to TIFF 2022

The filmmakers behind “Something You Said Last Night” “ROSIE” and more are queering the Toronto International Film Festival

By Pat Mullen

Drag Race

Join us for an Ask Me Anything with Xtra’s ‘Drag Race’ experts

Kevin O’Keeffe and Russ Martin will take your questions ahead of the “Canada’s Drag Race” Season 3 finale

By Mel Woods

Gaming

‘Curses’ explores the queer magic of owning your darkest feelings

Emily Flynn-Jones’s new semi-autobiographical video game asks players to take big feelings seriously—especially the bad ones

By V.S. Wells

Censorship

School district threatened with lawsuit after shutting down student newspaper over LGBTQ2S+ coverage

The ACLU claimed the district “blatantly violated” the U.S. constitution

By Nico Lang

Canada’s Drag Race

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 3: ‘After the Sashay’ with Irma Gerd

This week’s eliminated “Canada’s Drag Race” contestant talks repping the East Coast and appearing in a Grimes video

By Lito Howse, Russ Martin

Monthly Tune-Up

August’s best queer music includes punk rock bangers from WILLOW and Pussy Riot

Soundtrack the end of your summer with smooth electropop and buoyant punk

By Jordan Currie

Canada’s Drag Race

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 3, Episode 7 power ranking: Clearing the air

We’re down to a final five, with a potential new frontrunner

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Canada’s Drag Race

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 3, Episode 7 recap: Rusically inclined

A technically strong Rusical nonetheless feels a bit underwhelming

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Music

Rachika Nayar’s sophomore album ‘Heaven Come Crashing’ is a layered exploration of sound

REVIEW: The Brooklyn-based electronic artist expands on her deeply felt electronic soundscape

By Nour Abi-Nakhoul

Transphobia

Trans streamer plans to leave Canada after being targeted by doxxing and harassment campaign

Keffals believes that she has no other choice but to flee the country for her own safety

By Diamond Yao

Culture

Trail-blazing trans artist Greer Lankton gave the girls the dolls we need

Through two permanent archives and the artists she influenced, the legendary doll-maker’s work lives on

By Grace Byron

Culture

Meet Kidd Bandit, your new favourite non-binary anime pro wrestler

The indie wrestling breakout brings trans joy, keyblade battles and Naruto kicks to the ring

By Mel Woods