Xtra is an online magazine and community platform covering LGBTQ2S+ culture, politics and health. We aim to break boundaries, think outside of binaries and build bridges within our communities and beyond.

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Is Canada’s blood ban really over?

A public health researcher weighs in on what queer and trans people need to know about donating blood in Canada

By Cassandra Kislenko

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What do I need to know about HRT and birth control?

Can you still get pregnant while taking testosterone? Does estrogen affect fertility? An expert answers your questions about gender-affirming hormones and contraception

By Laurence Fox

Health

Can I still take testosterone if I have polycystic ovarian syndrome?

Amy Weimer of UCLA’s Gender Health Program explains how PCOS works when you’re trans

By Andy Bandyopadhyay

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How to talk about suicide

LGBTQ2S+ folks face a higher suicide risk than their cis, straight counterparts. Mental health researcher Alex Abramovich weighs in on how we can better help each other

By Ashleigh-Rae Thomas

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How to squirt

Is squirt pee? Can everyone do it? Lola Jean, sex educator and world record-holder for volume squirting, answers your questions

By Andrea Zanin

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What you need to know about non-monogamy and mental health

Non-monogamous relationships can come with a set of unique challenges. Here’s how to keep your mental health—and your partnerships—strong

By Diamond Yao

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Dr. Katrina Karkazis discusses rethinking the popular understanding of testosterone

“The number one misconception is that it’s a male sex hormone”

By Lito Howse

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How to make schools safer for LGBTQ2S+ youth

GLSEN interim executive director Melanie Willingham-Jaggers on creating liberatory spaces for queer youth

By Andy Bandyopadhyay

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How to prevent—or reverse—opioid overdoses

In 2020 alone, more than 100,000 North Americans died preventable opioid-related deaths. Here’s how you can help to reverse opioid overdoses and keep yourself—and your community safe

By Sessi Kuwabara Blanchard