Can the Conservative Party of Canada come out of the closet?

Tories have long made LGBTQ2S+ rights a wedge issue. Now the issue is dividing the party—and thwarting its chances at winning the next federal election

By Erica Lenti

Opinion

What gets ignored in campus debates over ‘free speech’

Controversies at two Canadian universities demonstrate how students on the margins get overlooked again and again

By KC Hoard

TV & Film

4 queer takeaways from a very hetero Oscars

We pulled the queerest moments from the decidedly straight, cis Oscars

By Mel Woods

Dance

How the New York art form of voguing invaded modern Russia

Meet the flamboyant dancers who know how to strike a pose

By Mikhail Gillman

Politics

Conservative MP calls out ‘lesbian activity’ and Twitter has some thoughts

Conservative MP Tamara Jansen made the comment during a debate on a bill that would ban conversion therapy

By Mel Woods

Politics

What’s in Canada’s budget for LGBTQ2S+ people?

The Liberal government’s proposed ‘inclusive recovery’ addresses queer and trans folks’ lived realities—and that’s a good start

By Dale Smith

Xtra Weekly

Topline: And the Oscar goes to… Acting like everything is normal

Ahead of the 93rd Academy Awards airing live from L.A. this weekend, Tre’vell Anderson gives us their predictions

By Tre’vell Anderson

Power

Violence against queer people is still being justified with ‘gay panic’ defences

A new report calls for the end of gay and trans panic defences in the United States

By Mel Woods

Culture

A beginner’s guide to queer TikTok

Get the most out of the wondrous, confounding platform by embracing its algorithm method

By Mel Woods

Politics

Canada’s bill to end conversion therapy stalled by Conservative ‘concern trolling’

Conservative MPs continue to call into question motives behind Bill C-6, which would end the discredited practice on a national scale

By Dale Smith

My Safe Space

Finding a second pandemic home at the corner store

The small talk is always small with the shopkeepers. We are familiar strangers; we know each other because we are there

By JB Bergin

Justice

How a Canadian court system officially ended misgendering in the courtroom

British Columbia courts now require lawyers and litigants to state their name, honorifics and pronouns at the start of proceedings

By Niko Stratis

Xtra Weekly

Topline: Signing a new lease on life

LGBTQ2S+ people experience higher rates of housing discrimination and, in this economy, accessing affordable housing can feel impossible—but collective action can help us get through

By Ziya Jones

Culture

‘The Bachelor’ star Colton Underwood comes out as gay, Netflix series in the works

In an interview with Good Morning America, Colton Underwood said he’s happier than he’s ever been

By Mel Woods

TV & Film

Meet the three queer women who directed all of ‘Queen Sugar’ this season

Ahead of the finale, we chat with Cierra Glaude, Lisa France and Lauren Wolkstein

By Tre’vell Anderson

Identity

All hail the queer mullet

Once considered a dusty relic of fashion past, the mullet has resurfaced thanks to pandemic lockdown at-home haircuts. Now, it’s time that the mullet gets the queer credit it’s due

By Kurt Suchman

Policing

‘Profound systemic failure’: 5 takeaways from the independent review of Toronto police

The report offers 151 recommendations to rectify how police handle missing persons cases within LGBTQ2S+ and other marginalized communities

By Mel Woods

Relationships

A Victoria, B.C., couple’s search for a companion urn is changing the funeral industry

Mike MacNabb and his husband Ivan Boychuk wanted to remain “together forever,” and now they can

By Tre’vell Anderson