Meet the Canada-based activists fighting the Australian refugee crisis from abroad

Ads Up Canada brought together a group of Aussie ex-pats to help queer and trans refugees out of detention and into safe homes

By KC Hoard

Health

For LGBTQ2S+ people, the term ‘universal’ health care is a misnomer

Zena Sharman’s “The Care We Dream Of” allows queer and trans people to imagine a health care system that actually works for them

By Ziya Jones

Politics

Marci Ien is Canada’s new representative for LGBTQ2S+ issues. What’s her plan?

The first-time minister talks money, mandates and representation

By Dale Smith

Power

The cost of policing public sex

OPINION: Five years ago, Toronto police cracked down on park cruising in a campaign called Project Marie. But LGBTQ2S+ activists fought back, reshaping the community’s relationship to the police

By Marcus McCann

Politics

Meet Ophelia Ravencroft, the goth non-binary trans lesbian elected in Newfoundland and Labrador

The first non-binary person elected in the province and the first trans woman elected in St. John’s is not what you might expect from a city councillor

By V.S. Wells

Politics

Canada’s queerest Cabinet is in. Now what?

ANALYSIS: When Parliament resumes, a ban on conversion practices and millions promised in funding for LGBTQ2S+ communities will be front of mind

By Dale Smith

Power

A proposed change to Quebec ID gender markers would legally out trans people

OPINION: Bill 2 would document both sex and gender identity on the birth registry—a major step back from past legal victories in the province

By Florence Ashley

Power

New program allowing queer men to donate plasma is a first step toward ending the blood ban

The pilot project in Calgary and London will use a behaviour-based screening questionnaire in lieu of policies that single out queer and trans people

By Dale Smith

Politics

This politician wants to overhaul Ontario’s trans health care system

A new bill proposes creating a gender-affirming health care advisory committee in the province

By Mel Woods

Politics

From queerest Parliament to queerest Cabinet?

ANALYSIS: With a record number of LGBTQ2S+ MPs elected this fall, the prime minister has plenty of worthy queer candidates to appoint

By Dale Smith

Health

One in three homeless LGBTQ2S+ Toronto youth attempted suicide since start of pandemic

A new survey from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health highlights the dramatic impact COVID-19 has had on unhoused LGBTQ2S+ youth

By Mel Woods

Politics

Blake Desjarlais is ready to make his mark on Parliament

Canada’s first openly Two-Spirit MP is headed to Ottawa after a historic election win

By Mel Woods

Politics

The 44th Parliament will be the queerest yet. What that means for LGBTQ2S+ Canadians

A record number of LGBTQ2S+ MPs have been elected, and that could mean some real attention to the political issues that matter to our communities

By Dale Smith

Politics

More than 800,000 Canadians voted for a blatantly anti-trans party

Support for the People’s Party of Canada—a party that has promised to roll back trans rights—grew during this week’s election

By Mel Woods

Politics

What LGBTQ2S+ organizations want from the new Liberal government

Xtra spoke to three organizations about the most pressing issues for Justin Trudeau and his party to address

By Arvin Joaquin

Politics

Canada, meet your new LGBTQ2S+ MPs

A record of eight queer, trans or Two-Spirit candidates were elected to Parliament

By Erica Lenti

Politics

How can Canada’s next federal government support LGBTQ2S+ youth?

Youth advocate Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah hopes young queer and trans Canadians can learn the power of disruption

By Arvin Joaquin

Politics

Annamie Paul wants a greener, queerer Canada

The Green leader on passing LGBTQ2S+ policy in the House, the importance of representation and what’s gone wrong within her own party

By Erica Lenti