5 queer and trans stories we’re watching: July 31

Trans Canadians celebrate potential update to binary body scanners, but say staff training is needed to ensure the benefits stick

OPINION: A Danielle Smith win in Alberta could spell more extremism from federal Tories

OPINION: Think conservative strongholds like Alberta and the American Deep South are unwinnable by progressives? Think again

While many drag events have been cancelled or postponed in Calgary over the last few months, as threats and protests escalate, a local historian says this type of backlash isn’t new

Catching up with Desjarlais on his—very busy—first year in Parliament

With “Crybaby” and “High School” dropping this month, Tegan and Sara are booked and busy

Four LGBTQ2S+ activists in Alberta tell Xtra what the new premier may mean for their province and community

Danielle Smith refused to condemn a candidate for her Wildrose Party in 2012 after he said LGBTQ2S+ people would suffer in a “lake of fire”

OPINION: Trans teachers already face many barriers. Registries with their deadnames are another hurdle

Slowly but surely, things are improving for queer Canadians in country music

At the city’s Pride Corner, a group of queer counter protestors is trying to drown out the hate

The creative ways queer and trans students are connecting during the pandemic—from Zoom calls to Instagram board games

In a relatively queer-friendly country, the province remains an outlier under Kenney’s power

Jason Kenney’s government says it’s not a ‘valid health service’

What you need to know about the walkout

We dig into his track record, his party’s promises and his new MLAs to find out

Nearly a decade ago, I started a Gay-Straight Alliance. I went back to high school to find out why they still matter

Alberta

Canadians win against anti-LGBTQ+ Italian party, Women’s World Cup players show Pride despite ban and more

Calgary Airport trials first gender-neutral security screenings in Canada

As the conservative heartland, Alberta’s election could be a sign of what’s to come nationally

As another NDP win in Alberta looms, queers must stop writing off ‘unwinnable places’

Calgary pastor faces multiple charges after disrupting drag storytime

Two-Spirit NDP MP Blake Desjarlais on trans rights, oil and gas companies, diversity and inclusion work and more

Tegan Quin talks ‘High School,’ new album and discovering TikTok twins

Albertan activists on Premier Danielle Smith’s ‘horrendous’ record on LGBTQ2S+ issues

Alberta’s new premier has an alarming LGBTQ2S+ rights history

Alberta’s teachers registry is outing trans teachers

Meet the queer voices taking the Canadian Country Music Awards by storm

A busy intersection in Edmonton has been dominated by homophobic street preachers for years

How Alberta GSAs are supporting LGBTQ2 youth during COVID-19

Inside Jason Kenney’s anti-LGBTQ2 Alberta

UCP dissolves group tasked with banning conversion therapy in Alberta

Alberta students to protest UCP’s stance on GSAs

Jason Kenney is Alberta’s new premier. What does it mean for LGBTQ2 people?

Inside GSAs, where kids learn to ‘talk gay’