The Canadian government’s curious silence on the crackdown on LGBTQ+ people in Türkiye

Several European countries and numerous organizations have spoken up, but Canada has neither joined in nor issued a statement of their own

By Dale Smith

Violence against LGBTQ2S+

The Philippine military killed a 26-year-old trans woman from Seattle. Her death reveals how social movements are intertwined

Filipina-American activist Kai Sorem went to the Philippines to defend the environment. Her death is a chilling reminder of the increased dangers faced by LGBTQ2S+ advocates abroad

By Alessandra Bergamin

Sports

Anti-trans hate came to the WNBA. Fans are fighting back

From organizing a “Trans Joy Rally” to handing out supportive signs at games, fans aren’t letting anti-trans discourse define the league

By Frankie de la Cretaz

Education

‘Like a dystopian novel:’ U.S. universities are slashing gender studies programs

A Texas university system is getting rid of programs they deem to be centred on sexual orientation and gender identity

By Jill Webb

Activism

Toronto is making an ambitious bid to return the Village to its roots

From eliminating cars to bringing back queer organizations, advocates are fighting to protect the gaybourhood’s identity

By Denio Lourenco

History

The story behind the forgotten first gay porn film

“The Surprise of a Knight,” the first known queer “stag film,” shows how gender, sexuality and desire have always been fluid

By Jake Hall

Justice

How Canadian law leaves poly people behind

An outdated section of the Criminal Code leaves polyamorous partners in a “legal grey area”

By Eve Cable

Politics

Canada’s national pharmacare plan helps trans people—so why isn’t the program expanding?

Politicians across the country have accused the federal Liberal government of stalling expansion of the plan

By Kevin Hurren

Sports

Ten years after its debut, hockey still needs Pride Tape

As the rainbow hockey stick tape turns 10 years old, reaction to “Heated Rivalry” shows it is more vital than ever

By Mel Woods

Pride

Canadian Pride organizations push for more stable funding

The country’s largest Pride festivals and others cite rising costs, fewer sponsors and safety concerns

By Dale Smith

Tech

‘Unusable’: The enshittification of Grindr

How pop-up ads, paywalled features and boardroom decisions degraded the quality of one of the world’s most popular dating apps

By Denio Lourenco

The Xtra Long Read

The many eras of the AIDS Committee of Toronto—including its final bow

As Canada’s oldest AIDS organization closes its doors after more than four decades, Xtra dives deep into its community history and why it’s come to an end

By Kevin Hurren

Youth

8 Alberta community leaders share their resources for trans youth

From summer camps to affirming churches, advocates say trans youth in the province aren’t alone

By Elena Sénéchal-Becker

Politics

Where do the NDP leadership hopefuls stand on queer and trans issues?

Xtra asked candidates about their policies on healthcare, trans athletes’ participation in sports and more

By Michelle Kay

On the Clock

Queer farmers are growing better futures

For generations, LGBTQ2S+ people fled rural areas. Now, they’re putting down roots, farming with a focus on community and the environment

By Ghazal Azizi

On the Clock

Trans public service workers say Ontario’s return-to-office mandate puts them at risk

Doug Ford has forced Ontario public servants back into the office. Trans workers fear the fallout

By Jacob Aron Leung

On the Clock

LGBTQ2S+ employment programs struggle to find funding, are unable to meet the needs of newcomers to Canada

Queer and trans immigrants rely on employment programs. Why don’t these programs get enough government money?

By Victoria Hincapie Gomez

On the Clock

Saskatchewan’s pronoun policy is driving teachers out of the profession

Teachers in the province are struggling to choose between protecting children and following the law

By Alice Boyle