The cost of building a family

Ken McNeilly wants the Canadian government to make tax credits more fair for queer men—and others—grappling with the cost of assisted reproduction

By Alison Motluk

Politics

Trans people are calling out Biden’s hollow Pride message

The U.S. president tweeted support for “brave” trans youth. Trans people have thoughts

By Mel Woods

Dispatch

Despair and resistance in Sheikh Jarrah

A queer Palestinian pop star reflects on how the fight for freedom is a feminist issue, an LGBTQ+ issue and an issue of racial justice

By Bashar Murad

Politics

Conservatives plan to spend Pride Month pressing for blood ban changes

The opposition party tabled a draft order to end the discriminatory practice for queer men and trans people

By Dale Smith

TV & Film

How a revolutionary turned a Berlin mosque into a declaration of love

A new documentary about human rights advocate Seyran Ateş takes us inside her mission to reinvigorate Islam

By Zaina Arafat

Politics

Bardish Chagger, our voice at the Cabinet table

Xtra asks Canada’s Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth about the millions of dollars set aside for LGBTQ2S+ policy and funding in last month’s federal budget

By Dale Smith

Dispatch

The Turkish government is targeting LGBTQ+ communities, but activists refuse to back down

Despite increased police presence and the derision of LGBTQ+ people by government officials, queer and trans Turks are making themselves even more visible through Pride and protest

By Clare Busch

Politics

Tennessee just passed some of the cruellest U.S. anti-trans legislation yet

The state’s governor just signed HB 1182 into law, which will require businesses to post warning signs about trans people in washrooms

By Mel Woods

Politics

Despite its best efforts, the Canadian government others trans folks in its latest census

There’s a lack of data on trans Canadians. But the 2021 census still fails to capture an accurate portrait of trans lives in Canada

By Niko Stratis

Politics

Canadian government looking to quash inquiry into Health Canada’s role in blood ban

Christopher Karas filed a human rights complaint against the government body over Canada’s blood donation ban in 2015

By Dale Smith

The Xtra Long Read

Cycles of violence

How one trans veteran confronts verbal and physical attacks—riding as hard as she can, chasing a memory

By Dalton LaFerney

Politics

The personal price paid by families under the onslaught of America’s anti-trans legislation

Supportive parents, especially supportive trans parents, are facing terrible choices

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Power

World’s largest Catholic school district votes to finally recognize Pride

The Toronto Catholic District School Board’s decision, which includes flying the Pride flag at all its schools in June, comes after years of opposition

By Mel Woods

Dispatch

I found trans resilience in an eighth grade, rural Ohio classroom

When I wound up in a traditional community for my student-teacher placement, I sought comfort in unspoken LGBTQ2S+ connections

By Gill Platek

Politics

What a Canadian court ruling on polyamory means for multi-parent families

Members of a triad in B.C. have been recognized as equal parents, changing legal and societal conceptions of what families look like

By Niko Bell

Politics

Queer and trans people are calling out Caitlyn Jenner’s bullshit

The California governor candidate said trans girls shouldn’t be allowed to play girls sports

By Mel Woods

Dispatch

After a summer of protest, queer Nigerians continue to fight for rights

Whether on the streets or in creative ways online, LGBTQ+ Nigerians are creating community and calling for change in the wake of the #EndSARS movement

By Ugonna-Ora Owoh

Power

Everything you need to know about America’s latest anti-trans legislation

The anti-trans bills across the United States come from dangerous ideas that have been simmering for years

By Mel Woods