TV & Film

How a revolutionary turned a Berlin mosque into a declaration of love

A new documentary about human rights advocate Seyran Ateş takes us inside her mission to reinvigorate Islam

By Zaina Arafat

Xtra Weekly

Topline: It’s (always) an honour just to be Asian

The recent rise in anti-Asian racism has made acknowledging and celebrating Asian Heritage Month all the more urgent

By Michelle da Silva

Power

The best clapbacks to the ‘no kink at Pride’ discourse

Leather, kink, bare asses and a titty or two are a fundamental part of Pride

By Mel Woods

The Xtra Long Read

What if we weren’t born that way?

The immutability of sexual orientation and gender identity has been the cornerstone argument for LGBTQ2S+ rights. The trouble is that not everyone fits that mold

By Heron Greenesmith

Identity

How Elliot Page’s thirst trap sparked conversations about trans body image

The actor and activist showed off his top surgery and rockin’ abs in a new photo posted to his social media this week

By Mel Woods

Tik Talk

23 non-binary TikToks for laughing, learning and sharing

Demi Lovato’s public coming out has spurred a conversation about the spectrum of non-binary identity. TikTok is a great place to see it in action

By Mel Woods

Politics

Bardish Chagger, our voice at the Cabinet table

Xtra asks Canada’s Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth about the millions of dollars set aside for LGBTQ2S+ policy and funding in last month’s federal budget

By Dale Smith

Culture

Demi Lovato comes out as non-binary after ‘healing and self-reflective work’

The singer and former child star says they want to better express the fluidity of their gender expression

By Mel Woods

Politics

Tennessee just passed some of the cruellest U.S. anti-trans legislation yet

The state’s governor just signed HB 1182 into law, which will require businesses to post warning signs about trans people in washrooms

By Mel Woods

My Safe Space

I created a drag persona to get me through quarantine

Connecting with my own queerness through Mairy Dilk gave me a lifeline when I couldn’t connect with anyone else

By Melanie Jayne Ashford

Culture

Companies are back at it with the Pride nonsense

From glitter cereal to whatever Target is doing, we’ve launched an ongoing rating of this year’s crop of rainbow capitalism

By Mel Woods

Politics

Despite its best efforts, the Canadian government others trans folks in its latest census

There’s a lack of data on trans Canadians. But the 2021 census still fails to capture an accurate portrait of trans lives in Canada

By Niko Stratis

Xtra Weekly

Topline: Who will you be as the world opens up?

Whether it’s a new name, new pronouns or a new relationship, many queer folks have changed a lot since the start of the pandemic

By Mel Woods

Sex

It’s time to recognize ‘sides’ as a legitimate sexual identity

Gay men who don’t like anal sex—neither topping nor bottoming—claim their place in the community

By Bobby Box

The Xtra Long Read

Cycles of violence

How one trans veteran confronts verbal and physical attacks—riding as hard as she can, chasing a memory

By Dalton LaFerney

Tik Talk

It’s queers versus TikTok moderation

LGBTQ2S+ people are being inexplicably censored on the platform—and they’re finding creative ways to get around it

By Mel Woods

Politics

The personal price paid by families under the onslaught of America’s anti-trans legislation

Supportive parents, especially supportive trans parents, are facing terrible choices

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Power

World’s largest Catholic school district votes to finally recognize Pride

The Toronto Catholic District School Board’s decision, which includes flying the Pride flag at all its schools in June, comes after years of opposition

By Mel Woods