Politics

The news cycle broke me. Gaming saved me

Things feel scarier than ever before—we won’t make it through without some distractions

By Katelyn Burns

Politics

Why are Democrats pivoting to transphobia?

ANALYSIS: Throwing trans people to the wolves to win elections is wrong. It’s also not going to work

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Rainbow Votes 2025

5 things to know about Jonathan Pedneault

What you need to know about Canada’s only openly queer federal political party leader

By Mel Woods

Rainbow Votes 2025

2025 Canadian federal election: What you need to know

From how and when to register to vote, to the big narratives we’re watching

By Mel Woods

Rainbow Votes 2025

Rainbow Votes returns for the 2025 Canadian federal election

Subscribe now to Xtra’s free pop-up election newsletter and stay looped into all things election 2025

By Mel Woods

Sports

The roller derby community’s fight to save the inclusive sport they built

In this period of trans sports bans, the derby community—players of a rare gender-diverse, full-contact sport—show a way forward

By SF Boswell

Nightlife

Why queer nightlife is faltering in Canada’s biggest cities

Noise police, rising commercial rents and restrictive city bylaws have stifled nightlife in Toronto and Montreal

By Denio Lourenco

Video

Carney cabinet cuts Minister for Women and Gender Equality

ANALYSIS: Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet is down several roles focused on diversity, equity and inclusion

By Mel Woods

Politics

Trudeau’s allyship was at the forefront of his term. How will Carney follow?

OPINION: The outgoing Liberal leaves behind a positive LGBTQ2S+ legacy of legislation, protections and allyship—but his successor still has some heavy lifting to do

By Dale Smith

Video

Where does Mark Carney stand on queer and trans issues?

ANALYSIS: The new Liberal leader and prime minister-designate should affirm his party’s stance before going toe to toe with Pierre Poilievre

By Mel Woods

Activism

Drag artists take a stand against Canada’s growing right wing

Queer and trans performers encourage their supporters to vote wisely in upcoming elections

By Kevin Hurren

Video

Trans sports ban fails in U.S. Senate

In a welcome win amidst Trump’s anti-trans onslaught, a national ban on trans women and girls from women’s sports died on the Senate floor this week

By Mel Woods

Video

Multiple Toronto Pride sponsors back out amid DEI backlash

Three large corporate sponsors, including Nissan Canada, have walked back support of this year’s festival

By Mel Woods

Politics

Anti-trans bathroom bills are back—and more extreme

More anti-trans bathroom bills have been introduced in the U.S. in 2025 than any year in history

By Nico Lang

Video

Explaining the new U.S. visa restrictions on trans travellers

ANALYSIS: If you’re a Canadian travelling to the U.S. for a vacation, should you worry? What about trans athletes?

By Mel Woods

Politics

Inside Canada’s most trans-friendly jurisdictions

Some parts of Canada have resisted the pull of anti-trans hate better than others. Here’s what it’s like to live in these places

By Charlotte Dalwood

Politics

We can do better than lazy Trump/Musk gay memes

OPINION: There are plenty of ways to troll the president and his right-hand man without resorting to casual homophobia

By Mel Woods

Video

Here’s how the U.S. government is defining ‘biological sex’

ANALYSIS: A new document featuring the administration’s attempt to categorize ‘two sexes’ is needlessly convoluted and contradictory

By Mel Woods