When investigations into the deaths of trans women go unsolved

A veteran journalist explores what the Bruce McArthur case can teach us about other unsolved murder investigations and the policing of sex work

By Nour Abi-Nakhoul

Books

First Lady Nancy Reagan befriended gay men, then betrayed them

The legacy of the Reagan presidency’s callous handling of the early HIV/AIDS crisis still haunts us today

By Daniel Sanchez Torres

Dispatch

Despite ongoing homophobia, Kenya forms an LGBTQ+ state agency

The agency will report back to the government on discrimination faced by marginalized queer and trans Kenyans

By Gitonga Njeru

Excerpt

How the fight to legalize gay marriage in the U.S. was kickstarted by a PR stunt in Hawaii

Bill Woods thought his plot to procure marriage licences for gay couples would make news on the islands. He didn’t think, 25 years later, it would make history

By Sasha Issenberg

Power

One year later, LGBTQ2S+ businesses are still struggling to stay afloat

Queer- and trans-owned businesses were some of the hardest hit by COVID-19. Now, their survival hinges on how vital customers think they are

By Rob Csernyik

Dispatch

How I survived lockdown with my parents after coming out to them as trans

As India battled through yet another wave of COVID-19 outbreaks and I couldn’t leave home, I told my family who I really am

By Urmi Bhattacheryya

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6’ Episode 3 recap: Let’s get ‘Physical’

Baby, keep on stanning like you ain’t got a choice for this iconic lip sync

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Politics

All parties get to wear the failure to ban conversion therapy in Canada

Bill C-6, which would have prohibited the harmful practice on a national level, did not pass through the Senate—and there’s plenty of blame to share across party lines

By Dale Smith

That’s the Way It Is

We still can’t tell if Céline Dion is a child prodigy made good or a heartless robot bent on world domination

One thing’s for sure: after 40 years in showbiz, the beloved Quebec chanteuse has never figured out how to be cool

By Thomas Leblanc, Tranna Wintour

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6’ Episodes 1 and 2 power ranking: Peaks and valleys

A early star emerges while other queens struggle to stand out

By Kevin O’Keeffe

The Xtra Long Read

What does Pride look like in a post-pandemic world?

Pride festivals around the world are grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19, a global racial reckoning and corporate criticisms. At Pride Toronto, managing the future of the event means tackling it all head-on

By Cameron Perrier

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6’ Episode 2 recap: Hey Blue, here is a ball for you

Finally, ‘All Stars’ delivers a full-scale Ball challenge

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6’ Episode 1 recap: A gorgeous gaggle of Glamazons

The largest, single season ‘All Stars’ cast has to stand out in a crowded variety show

By Kevin O’Keeffe

Xtra Weekly

Topline: Behold the 2021 Pride campaign hall of shame

Was there a single queer person in the room when these ads were conceived?

By Erica Lenti

Politics

This Canadian senator wants your porn habits tracked

An Independent senator’s proposed legislation would use facial recognition to keep kids away from sexually explicit content—privacy be damned

By Dale Smith

Drag Race

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under’ Episode 8 recap: She’s a winner, baby

It’s been a long road, but at last we have Down Under’s first “Drag Race” superstar

By Kevin O’Keeffe

TV & Film

How much longer will straight white women be our queer superhero stand-ins?

Marvel and DC need to do more than offer us blockbusters with female leads who are symbolically marginalized

By Aviva Dove-Viebahn

Identity

After transitioning during the pandemic, trans people return to the unknown of real-world interactions

The awkwardness of a transition is a lot easier to negotiate when there’s no one to impress. But what happens when we go back to our pre-COVID-19 ways?

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle