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

Could Canadian conservatives copy Trump’s anti-trans messaging?

The president-elect’s final ad push—and subsequent election win—may have Canada’s right looking to lean in on anti-trans messaging

By Mel Woods

Politics

Trans issues didn’t doom the Democrats

OPINION: The Republicans won ending on a giant anti-trans note, but Democrats ultimately failed to communicate on class

By Katelyn Burns

Video

UCP AGM signals that more anti-trans laws could be coming for Alberta

Danielle Smith’s party passed resolutions at their AGM this weekend including a bathroom bill and defunding gender-affirming healthcare for all ages

By Mel Woods

Video

Celebrities, activists take red carpet at Pink Awards

Catch them here and on YouTube as LGBTQ2S+ changemakers and their champions are honoured at the inaugural celebration

By Xtra Staff

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

Video

Alberta introduces Canada’s harshest anti-trans policies yet

Premier Danielle Smith’s government tabled three new policies on gender-affirming healthcare, pronouns in schools and trans girls in sports

By Mel Woods

Immigration & Refugees

Canada’s immigration system is failing undocumented LGBTQ+ migrants

Charles Mwangi, a bisexual refugee from Kenya, is in Canada now—but what the future holds for him is unclear

By Byron Armstrong

Politics

The state of trans rights, post 3 provincial elections

New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and B.C. voters all went to the polls, and largely rejected anti-trans rhetoric, but there are still some alarming trends

By Caitlin Hart

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: When do kids figure out gender?

Trans youth are all over the news. But what does research say about age and gender?

By Mel Woods

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: Trans girls and sports

Debunking some of the biggest myths around trans girls and fairness in sports

By Mel Woods

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: Inclusive sex education in Canada

SOGI curriculum and comprehensive sexuality education are vital resources to a young person’s education

By Mel Woods

Xtra Explains

Xtra Explains: ‘Trans-Trenders’ and social contagion theory

The rapid-onset gender dysphoria theory has been debunked. Here’s what you need to know

By Mel Woods

Inside Xtra

Introducing Xtra Explains: Trans Youth

The 10-part video series provides shareable, fact-checked info on the hot-button issues of the debate around trans youth and their health

By Mel Woods

Culture

The surprising queer utopia of Duolingo

ANALYSIS: From LGBTQ+ characters in their lessons to hunky owls in the streets, Duolingo’s blend of inclusivity and absurdity has me primed for my next lesson

By Jon Heggestad

Books

In ‘American Teenager,’ trans youth get to speak for themselves

Nico Lang’s book takes us into the lives of seven trans youth across the U.S.

By Ziya Jones

Politics

With introduction of anti-trans policies, Danielle Smith rewrites the rules

OPINION: The Alberta premier is aiming to frame the passionate defence of trans youth as the unhinged stance

By Dale Smith