Xtra Explains: When do kids figure out gender?

Trans youth are all over the news. But what does research say about age and gender?

Xtra Explains: Puberty blockers

Politicians like Pierre Poilievre and Danielle Smith have set out to restrict their use. But what are these medications actually about?

By Mel Woods

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: Gender-affirming surgery for young people

No province in Canada performs bottom surgery on young people, and even top surgery is very rare

By Mel Woods

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: Hormone replacement therapy for young people

What does gender-affirming HRT actually look like for trans youth in Canada?

By Mel Woods

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: Trans girls and sports

Debunking some of the biggest myths around trans girls and fairness in sports

By Mel Woods

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: Inclusive sex education in Canada

SOGI curriculum and comprehensive sexuality education are vital resources to a young person’s education

By Mel Woods

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: ‘Trans-Trenders’ and social contagion theory

The rapid-onset gender dysphoria theory has been debunked. Here’s what you need to know

By Mel Woods

Xtra Explains

The 178 sources we used in Xtra Explains: Trans Youth

Dive into the citations and facts behind our new 10-part explainer series

By Hannah Mercanti, Mel Woods

Youth

How ‘mature minor’ laws let trans kids make their own decisions

Canadian law lets some youth make medical or legal decisions for themselves, but how does it work?

By Florence Ashley

Trans Health

Busting the myths around transition regret and detransition

How many people regret their decision to receive gender-affirming care? Do people who detransition always regret their transitions?

By Charlotte Dalwood

Sexual Health

What does U=U mean?

We break down ‘Undetectable equals Untransmittable,’ and what you should know about HIV treatment and prevention

By Paula Espinosa

These are some of the coolest gay bars in the world

Ten spots that are hip and happening four or more days a week

By Paul Gallant

Trans Health

What you need need to know about gender-affirming care for youth

What sort of healthcare is available? Do parents have any say? Is the healthcare safe and effective?

By Charlotte Dalwood

Identity

‘Gender ideology,’ the new anti-LGBTQ2S+ buzzword, explained

Experts weigh in on what the term tells us about the goals, language and future of the global anti-trans movement

By Tobin Ng

Youth

Understanding ‘social contagion theory’ and what it means for trans kids

Where did this idea come from? How does it affect the trans community? Does the science hold up?

By Julia Peterson

Politics

Your questions about free speech, answered

What is it? Does it protect the LGBTQ2S+ community? How is it evolving to better protect queer people? Find answers to all these questions and more in this explainer

By Charlotte Dalwood

Activism

What’s at stake for LGBTQ2S+ writers in the WGA strike?

Our favourite queer media will have to wait until the creative minds behind them get a fair deal

By Phoebe Fuller

Trans Health

Canada’s testosterone shortages are ongoing—and trans people still aren’t getting answers

With little information or support available, trans people who use testosterone are left to advocate for themselves

By Claire Forth