The cruelty and calm of Alberta’s attack on trans rights

ANALYSIS: The province’s new set of anti-trans policies are unprecedented in Canada and are as politically motivated as it gets

By Mel Woods

Politics

Danielle Smith is pandering to her reactionary base

ANALYSIS: Between her appearance with Tucker Carlson and parental rights policies, the Alberta premier has clearly committed

By Dale Smith

Politics

Alberta town to vote on banning Pride flags and rainbow crosswalks

If passed, Westlock would be the first town in Alberta with such a bylaw. The move echoes similar attempts in the U.S. to ban Pride flags in schools and government buildings

By Mel Woods, Oliver Haug

Politics

Poilievre’s concern over press freedom is just dystopian world-building

OPINION: In his false, bifurcated view of reality, queer and trans people are treated as villains

By Dale Smith

Identity

‘Your faith is yours.’ Community leaders discuss being queer and Muslim

Canada’s queer Muslim community embraces multiple identities while confronting prejudice from many sides

By Larayb Abrar

Education

Far-right groups turning to ‘lawfare’ tactic to push back against LGBTQ2S+ curriculum

Experts say the tactic is more about intimidation than legal enforceability

By Emma Arkell

Justice

Canada’s prison system is still vastly transphobic

Despite recent changes to Canada’s Human Rights Act, incarcerated trans people in Canada still face violence and discrimination

By Charlotte Dalwood

Politics

New Brunswick premier doubling down on anti-trans policies to win next election

ANALYSIS: Blaine Higgs’s open embrace of Christian nationalism should set off alarm bells

By Dale Smith

Human Rights

Looking for progress on LGBTQ+ rights in 2024? Keep an eye on these countries

From Thailand and Namibia to Poland and the U.K., good news is on the horizon for queer and trans folk

By Rob Salerno

Rainbow Rewind 2023

Our power ranking of all 14 seasons of ‘Drag Race’ that aired in 2023

From the lead-footed Belgians to the high-flying French, we rate the world in heels

By Sam Franzini

Justice

Court rules that ‘groomer’ is a slur, not protected speech

Experts say the precedent means that the queer community will be able to protect themselves from defamation and hateful speech

By Dale Smith

Books

A deeply Cree and gloriously queer conversation with Kent Monkman and Gisèle Gordon

Get ready to love and laugh with Miss Chief Eagle Testickle

By Megan Scribe

Rainbow Rewind 2023

Righteous Queens and Shady Bitches 2023

An annual tradition returns: the highs and the lows of the past year, personified

By Xtra Staff

Rainbow Rewind 2023

Xtra’s top LGBTQ2S+ stories of the year

The best and brightest—even most bewildering—stories from a back catalogue brimming with insight

By Xtra Staff

Rainbow Rewind 2023

How the moral panic around ‘parental rights’ in Canada defined 2023

ANALYSIS: The fight to protect trans and gender-diverse kids is far from over

By Dale Smith

Justice

The legal case for teachers defying anti-trans laws

OPINION: A petition calling on teachers to violate Saskatchewan’s anti-trans Parents’ Bill of Rights could help the cause of striking it down

By Charlotte Dalwood

Trans Health

Inside the fight to add gender-affirming care to university health insurance plans

Students in British Columbia successfully campaigned to add gender affirming care to their school’s health insurance. That benefit is now available to 200,000 university students across Canada—but gaps remain

By Phoebe Fuller

Politics

Canadian Conservative ties to Hungary and Orbán are cause for concern

OPINION: The Danube Institute treated a group of Conservatives to a lavish trip, part of what could be a slippery ideological slope

By Dale Smith