How Trump 2.0 will further divide America

ANALYSIS: The conservative obsession with “states’ rights” will have wide-ranging effects—from public health to anti-LGBTQ2S+ discrimination

By Zack Ford

Rainbow Rewind 2024

Righteous queens and shady bitches of 2024

Xtra’s annual roundup of the most awe-inspiring and most awful players of the year

By Xtra Staff

Dangerous Space

Why is the anti-trans movement so obsessed with trans women?

Our bodies are constantly the subject of what would be called sexual harassment if it were done to anyone else

By Kai Cheng Thom

Health

You can get Mpox even if you’re vaccinated—it happened to me

Having the virus taught me Canada needs to do more to support people who get Mpox

By Sam Sferrazza

Politics

From Higgs to Trump, what did this fall’s elections teach Canadians?

OPINION: Ahead of a likely federal election next year, what can Canadians take away from the U.S., New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and B.C.?

By Dale Smith

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: Social vs. medical transition

Media and politicians like to fixate on the medical aspects of transition. But for most trans youth, social transition plays a much bigger part in their lives

By Mel Woods

Youth

Things ‘more intense’ since Alberta policies dropped, says mom of trans kid

From issues at school to considering going out of province for care, parents say things have gotten harder in Alberta

By Ziya Jones

Books

‘Solemates’ is a barefoot stroll through the history of our fetish for feet

Queer historian Adam Zmith’s newest book allows us to dip our toes into the past of a common, yet stigmatized, kink

By Kevin Hurren

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: Detransition

In reality, only around three percent of trans people experience some form of regret

By Mel Woods

Dangerous Space

How to survive the apocalypse (again)

Wherever there is a history of homophobia and transphobia, we also find a history of our people celebrating community, mutual care and joy

By Kai Cheng Thom

Activism

Higgs’s defeat a relief to New Brunswick activists, but fight continues

A new Liberal government doesn’t automatically mean the undoing of a year and a half of anti-LGBTQ2S+ policy changes

By Rhea Rollmann

Xtra Explains

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

TV & Film

Tegan and Sara catfishing doc shows the good—and bad—of internet fandom

The documentary discusses a catfisher who targeted Tegan for 16 years and the complicated nature of fan culture

By Gabrielle Drolet

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

Dangerous Space

To combat transphobia, we need to engage with the people who spread it

OPINION: opening up a dialogue with those we disagree with is key if we want to achieve widespread social change

By Kai Cheng Thom

Education

The next ‘parental rights’ frontier? Getting kids out of school altogether

Christian Nationalists are encouraging parents to homeschool and avoid LGBTQ2S+-inclusive education

By Emma Arkell

Mental Health

The 2024 election is taking a toll on trans mental health. Here’s how to keep it together

ANALYSIS: Telling trans people to “just vote” isn’t helpful

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle