History

Trans singer Jackie Shane spotlighted in latest Heritage Minute

The famous Historica Canada series features an icon in trans history

By Silas Le Blanc

Theatre

John-Andrew Morrison on ‘A Strange Loop’ as the show enters its final stretch

The star of the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical celebrates the love and tragedy of all our mothers

By Mikelle Street

Identity

For queer Asians, community means family

After pandemic lockdowns and anti-Asian violence, LGBTQ2S+ Asians across Canada are coming together with a vengeance

By Diamond Yao

Playlist Q

Kezra Leon’s ‘Pink Moon’ is a club banger in the making

Florida rapper and drag performer Kezra Leon’s new EP is an homage to club culture

By Daria Lynn Cottingham

Queer View Mirror

How the ¡Cuéntamelo! anthology inspired me to collect queer Latine stories

Julián Delgado Lopera’s oral history collection gave me the confidence to engage in community storytelling

By Alexi Chacon

Art & Photography

Of course Isabel Okoro wants the world to end

The Toronto-based Nigerian photographer thinks we deserve better than the world we’ve inherited

By Connor Garel

Culture

Meet Kidd Bandit, your new favourite non-binary anime pro wrestler

The indie wrestling breakout brings trans joy, keyblade battles and Naruto kicks to the ring

By Mel Woods

TV & Film

‘P-Valley’ tells Black queer stories you won’t find anywhere else

The series, wrapping up Season 2 this weekend, depicts the layered experiences of Black queer Southerners with care and authenticity

By Daria Lynn Cottingham

Activism

This Black trans woman has been incarcerated in a men’s prison for nearly a decade. She’s finally free

Ashley Diamond has fought for landmark reforms around gender-affirming treatment for trans people held in Georgia prisons

By Oliver Haug

Identity

Why I started a digital shrine to Justice Smith and Nic Ashe’s relationship

The actor boyfriends are the possibility models I didn’t know I needed

By Mikelle Street

Mental Health

The pandemic is causing an LGBTQ2S+ mental health crisis in Canada

New polling indicates increasing rates of anxiety and depression, particularly among LGBTQ2S+ youth and people of colour

By Oliver Haug

London Calling

Cabaret star Tyreece is the toast of London—and the internet!

The non-binary burlesque performer and “Slag Wars” winner gives Xtra a personal tour of LGBTQ+ London

By Russ Martin

Activism

Remembering trans icon Mama Gloria, the ‘Emily Post of Halsted Street’

In this previously unreleased 2014 interview, Gloria Allen reflects on her life and legacy

By Nico Lang

Playlist Q

Chicago rapper Cuee is ‘Coming Out’ swinging

The artist’s recently released EP, centred on liberation and Pride, is a reintroduction to the world

By Daria Lynn Cottingham

Pride 2022: Party & Protest

45 years on the edge with legendary DJ David Morales

Morales discusses the history of house, the hard truth about safe spaces, the drama behind diva remixes and being the gayest straight DJ of all time

By Elio Iannacci

Books

A writer for screen, stage and page, R. Eric Thomas uses comedy to recalibrate the American experience

“It’s important that we find love,” says R. Eric Thomas, “but it’s also important that we we queer people find community and a sense of belonging”

By S. Bear Bergman

TV & Film

The gospel of ‘Legendary’: How the ballroom series keeps spreading the good word

Leiomy Maldonado, Keke Palmer and more take us behind the scenes of Season 3

By Cameron Scheetz

Politics

Karine Jean-Pierre makes history as first Black woman and queer person to serve as White House press secretary

“This is a historic moment, and it’s not lost on me,” Jean-Pierre said

By Nico Lang