If you woke up hungry for the latest in queer news after the weekend, Xtra’s rounded up the five biggest stories in the LGBTQ2S+ world! We’ve got the new queer version of Netflix’s The Ultimatum, folks speaking out against Tucker Carlson’s transphobia, the latest updates on India’s case for same-sex marriage, the decriminalization of homosexuality in the Cook Islands, and a protest and counter-protest at a Toronto school’s International Day of Pink.
1. The trailer for The Ultimatum, Netflix’s queer dating show, just dropped
2. An advocacy organization has formally complained against Fox News’ Tucker Carlson’s transphobic rants, arguing that the network violates Canadian broadcasting standards
3. Same-sex marriage appeals dismissed as “urban elitist views” by Indian government
4. The Cook Islands just decriminalized homosexuality
5. York Mills Collegiate Institute and the Toronto District School Board marked International Day of Pink with queer speakers—and protestors made their opinions known
1. We’re getting a queer season of The Ultimatum
Netflix has just dropped the trailer for The Ultimatum: Queer Love, bringing an all-queer reality show with five LGBTQ2S+ couples to our screens.
The show is the second season of The Ultimatum, but the first to feature an all-queer cast, with all individuals on the show being lesbian, bisexual or non-binary. Couples on the show face an ultimatum: marry or walk away. Over the course of the show, they will be allowed to date other people and test the strength of their love.
Fans have been reacting largely positively, with one fan noting that she was excited to watch the dating show with her mom. “My biggest critique of these dating shows is that they aren’t inclusive of how all people love. Mix it up!” wrote Luria Freeman. “I’m so here for The Ultimatum: Queer Love! I’m excited for her to see why this representation is not only important, but equally entertaining!”
Others were a bit more cautious, with one Twitter user saying that the show is “equal opportunity exploitation,” and another critical of the title choice: “Love that Netflix is doing a queer version of The Ultimatum, hateeeee that they’re calling it The Ultimatum: Queer Love,” wrote journalist Rebecca Long. “The first season wasn’t called The Ultimatum: Straight Love, like c’mon,” she finished.
2. An advocacy organization has formally complained against Fox News’ Tucker Carlson’s transphobic rants, arguing that the network violates Canadian broadcasting standards
LGBTQ2S+ advocacy group Egale Canada has published an open letter to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) calling for a public consultation on the broadcasting of Fox News in Canada. The complaint comes after Egale Canada were featured on the show in a transphobic segment where Carlson argued that trans folks are “targeting Christians,” and that trans people are given preferential treatment by potential employers.
The letter, written by Egale executive director Helen Kennedy, notes that the CRTC has a responsibility to ensure that broadcasting serves the public interest, and that non-Canadian broadcasters must be held to the same standards as Canadian ones—meaning that Fox News should theoretically be fined or receive other punitive measures for broadcasting abuse that exposes a group to hate on the basis of sex or sexual orientation.
3. Same-sex marriage appeals dismissed as “urban elitist views” by Indian government
As queer folks and allies in India continue the fight for marriage equality, a new government document shows that appeals to legalize same-sex marriage are being dismissed as “urban elitist views.”
The appeals, initially opposed in March by the government, are supposedly incompatible with the mainstream opinion, said a Supreme Court filing on Sunday.
“The petitions, which merely reflect urban elitist views, cannot be compared with the appropriate legislature which reflects the views and voices of far wider spectrum and expands across the country,” the document said.
At least 15 appeals have been filed with the court in recent months.
4. The Cook Islands just decriminalized homosexuality
On Friday, the Cook Islands nullified and removed an archaic and unenforced law, which saw queer people criminalized under the 1969 Crimes Act.
The act, which could hypothetically result in at least five-year imprisonments for queer folks, prohibited “indecent acts between males,” and is now being replaced with the Crimes (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill, which would provide protections for victims of sexual assault and other crimes. That bill received support from all major political parties.
“I think the message that we want to tell people is—hug your friend, hug your neighbour, hug your niece, hug your daughter, because now we are truly equal,” said Pride Cook Islands president Karla Eggelton.
5. York Mills Collegiate Institute and the Toronto District School Board marked International Day of Pink with queer speakers—and protestors made their opinions known
Last week saw people across the world come together in support of the International Day of Pink, a worldwide anti-bullying event specifically aimed at addressing anti-LGBTQ2S+ bullying. At York Mills Collegiate Institute, students gathered for remote and in-person events attended by drag queens and gay rights activist Martin Boyce.
Boyce, who was at the Stonewall Riots in 1969, gave a keynote speech focusing on discussing increased hate toward the queer community, and stressed the importance of standing up to hatred.
“They are fighting us, but we’re ready,” he said to the students.
Outside the school, a small but vocal protest group gathered. Save Canada, a youth-run Christian group inspired by Donald Trump, repeated claims that the event was encouraging “grooming,” and handed out Bibles. Some students appeared to join the Save Canada protest, but many also joined a counter-protest held simultaneously.
Why you can trust Xtra
