Everything queer coming to streaming platforms in August

From “The L Word” reboot and another lesbian historical drama to the recent gay romance “Boy Meets Boy” and a drag musical

By Sarah Taher

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Online and offline festival frolics, plus the book club you need to join immediately

Our recommendations for what’s up and what’s on, beginning July 29

By S. Bear Bergman

Music

How ambient music legend William Basinski made his playful side step into dance music

Basinski’s latest project, Sparkle Division, has all the crackle and vitality of a 1970s disco

By Jesse Locke

Music

4 key moments (so far) from Lil Nas X’s wild year

“Industry Baby” is another step in the gay icon’s rise to the top of the world

By Mel Woods

That’s the Way It Is

If the Spice Girls were so disposable, why are we still humming “Wannabe” 25 years later?

The Spice Girls topped the charts for just a short time, but they will forever be fetish objects for queer kids from the 1990s

By Thomas Leblanc, Tranna Wintour

Lucky Stars

Step into the limelight with JLo and all our Leo pals

Thomas and Tranna roast the lions of the Zodiac

By Xtra Video

Sports

Non-binary skateboarder brings joy and pronouns to Olympics

U.S. skateboarder Alana Smith proudly showed off their pronoun pin and they/them board during their event

By Mel Woods

Books

What can queers learn about ourselves by conversing with the past?

Comedian Tricia Black interviews writer Brian Francis about his hilarious and touching new memoir

By Tricia Black

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6’ Episode 6 power ranking: We’ve got magic to do

An over-acting challenge puts a new favourite queen on top

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6’ Episode 6 recap: Witches better beware

An “American Horror Story”-themed acting challenge pushes the dolls to overact the house down

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Xtra Weekly

Topline: Things need to get better for everybody, not just some people

It’s hard to watch crackdowns on LGBTQ+ people in China and other countries

By Paul Gallant

Sports

Your big queer and trans guide to the Tokyo Olympics

Despite controversies, coronavirus and cancellations, the Olympics are happening. Here’s what you need to know.

By Mel Woods

The Xtra Long Read

When did Hollywood stop depicting queer seniors as victims and predators and start treating them like real people?

Today’s LGBTQ2S+ seniors expect more from filmmakers than the cringe-inducing stereotypes of years past

By Frank M. Miller

Books

10 queer books we’re absolutely and completely loving this summer

Need a beach read? We revisit some of the best works of fiction and non-fiction our writers have picked up so far this year

By Paul Gallant

Tik Talk

Queer comedians have found a new voice on TikTok

Without a stage for the past year and a half, many queer comedians have taken to TikTok

By Mel Woods

My Safe Space

How queer-friendly Shabbat helped me fully embrace my Jewish heritage

When I bring in Shabbat, I get to do so with other queer Jews—not because I have to, but because I choose to

By Emily Zinkin

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6’ Episode 5 power ranking: Opening up

Pink Table Talk puts a new queen in the top spot

By Kevin O’Keeffe

TV & Film

How this straight actor prepared to play gay in The CW’s ‘Kung Fu’

Aussie Jon Prasida talks about being an ally and about Asian representation on screen

By Max Gao