The Xtra Long Read

Divergent: The emerging research on the connection between trans identities and neurodivergence

The concept of “neuroqueer” helps a trans writer realize there is no one right way to wire a brain

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Tik Talk

The best TikToks by and about queer Olympians

The Tokyo Olympics have made it to TikTok. So have the Games’ queer stars

By Mel Woods

My Safe Space

In the darkness of the pandemic, I found light in a WhatsApp group chat

A writer with borderline personality disorder found a virtual space free from stigma and brimming with humour

By Miranda Newman

Xtra Weekly

Topline: Coming outs and clarifications

Coming out is a process. It’s okay to do a little beta testing first

By Mel Woods

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

Identity

I came out later in life. I’ve never felt more free—nor more alone

Before I could find belonging among fellow queers, I first needed to learn how to belong to myself

By Alena Papayanis

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

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

HIV/AIDS

Coming of age during the AIDS crisis: A dialogue

Authors Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore and Alexander McClelland discuss how a lost generation of queers came out, grieved and thrived through the height of the epidemic

By Alexander McClelland, Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore

Music

How on earth does Elle Barbara, a celebrated mother of Montreal’s ballroom scene, make music while doing so much mentoring?

Never mind the inter-house rivalries, vogue still has the power to bring people together

By Jesse Locke

Power

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

Identity

How ‘Legally Blonde’ made me a bad bitch

“Reese Witherspoon’s character was so impactful it made me want to be a fiercely fab lawyer, too,” writes editor-at-large Tre’vell Anderson

By Tre’vell Anderson

Identity

How to not be weird about pronouns

How to be chill, cool and a good ally when talking about peoples’ pronouns

By Mel Woods

Xtra Weekly

Topline: The delightful mess of offline human interaction

I’ve been finding myself feeling both socially anxious and desperate for company—and Zoom isn’t helping

By Zaina Arafat

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