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

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

Books

First Lady Nancy Reagan befriended gay men, then betrayed them

The legacy of the Reagan presidency’s callous handling of the early HIV/AIDS crisis still haunts us today

By Daniel Sanchez Torres

Dispatch

Despite ongoing homophobia, Kenya forms an LGBTQ+ state agency

The agency will report back to the government on discrimination faced by marginalized queer and trans Kenyans

By Gitonga Njeru

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

Tik Talk

In these trying times, thank goodness for the TikTok butches in bikinis

How fun and sexy queer TikTok trends are a blessed balm for the hell of the world

By Mel Woods

Dispatch

After a year in isolation, returning to Pride was an exercise in finding joy

L.A.-based writer Jon Higgins reflects on Pride Day at Universal Studios, and the thrill of being surrounded by community again

By Jon Higgins

Identity

Summer swimwear solutions for all genders and bodies

From binding at the beach to size-inclusive options, queer and trans folks are finding ways to look cool and comfortable

By Mel Woods

Power

One year later, LGBTQ2S+ businesses are still struggling to stay afloat

Queer- and trans-owned businesses were some of the hardest hit by COVID-19. Now, their survival hinges on how vital customers think they are

By Rob Csernyik

Dispatch

How I survived lockdown with my parents after coming out to them as trans

As India battled through yet another wave of COVID-19 outbreaks and I couldn’t leave home, I told my family who I really am

By Urmi Bhattacheryya

Politics

All parties get to wear the failure to ban conversion therapy in Canada

Bill C-6, which would have prohibited the harmful practice on a national level, did not pass through the Senate—and there’s plenty of blame to share across party lines

By Dale Smith

Activism

How small towns are celebrating Pride Month

Xtra catches up with the folks from our “Small Town Pride” documentary to see what Pride is like during a pandemic

By Riley Sparks

The Xtra Long Read

After more than two years of Bolsonaro, queer Brazilian artists and entertainers feel like they’re losing ground

The unexpected death of comedian Paulo Gustavo has focused attention on the government’s disregard for LGBTQ+ culture

By Nicole Froio