Human Rights | Xtra Magazine

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.

This World Cup, FIFA’s long history of ‘sportswashing’ continues

OPINION: The PR boost from hosting the tournament is allowing Qatar to gloss over its anti-LGBTQ+ human rights abuses. When the games come to the U.S. in 2026, it will be no different

By Katelyn Burns

Ask Kai: Advice for the Apocalypse

My bosses keep misgendering my co-worker. Should I say something?

“It takes a strong soul to correct a person in a position of power—but this is what it means to stand up to injustice.”

By Kai Cheng Thom

A beauty pageant’s decision to exclude a trans contestant was upheld in court. That should worry us all

OPINION: The American 9th circuit court ruled that forcing the pageant to include trans contestants would amount to “compelled speech.” This sets a dangerous precedent for trans exclusion

By Katelyn Burns

Yukon government temporarily pauses funding for some gender-affirming care

The territory, heralded as a world leader in support for trans healthcare, suffers a painful setback

By Laurence Fox

All the LGBTQ2S+ wins and losses from the 2022 midterm elections

Here’s everything queer you need to know about election night

The Supreme Court’s newest LGBTQ2S+ rights case could end in a major disaster

The U.S. could resemble states without non-discrimination laws if the court sides with Lorie Smith

By Jackie Richardson

Two Iranian LGBTQ+ activists have been sentenced to death

Iran is one of at least eight countries where homosexuality is punishable by the death penalty

Chile just blocked historic LGBTQ+ rights reforms—and Scotland could be next

Chileans voted against a new pro-LGBTQ+ constitution, and proposed trans rights reforms in Scotland are also in jeopardy

By Maddy Mahoney

New legal victories give hope to Caribbean queer people whose sex lives remain criminalized

Saint Kitts and Nevis is just the latest win. Here’s our guide to the many court cases unfolding in the Caribbean

Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin wants teachers to out LGBTQ2S+ children

The Republican looks to continue the state’s rightward shift on queer issues

By Silas Le Blanc

India is facing a massive shortage of life-saving HIV drugs

Activists and doctors are raising the alarm as 500,000 Indians are left without treatment

By Mzwandile Poncana

A record number of African youth support LGBTQ+ equality, according to new survey

Thirty-eight percent of young adults in sub-Saharan Africa said they want their governments to do more for LGBTQ+ rights

By Ursula Muñoz S.

Trans and non-binary Manitobans face major delays in receiving corrected health card

Some have waited months to years to receive updated cards, while others have never received a response

Cuba will hold national referendum to vote on legalizing marriage equality, same-sex adoptions

Critics have accused the country, however, of using LGBTQ+ rights to “pinkwash” its poor human rights record

The EU is officially suing Hungary over its anti-LGBTQ+ ‘propaganda’ law

Hungary has also outlawed same-sex adoptions and banned trans people from correcting their legal gender

Rob Oliphant, parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, raises LGBTQ+ issues in Africa

Xtra catches up with the out gay Liberal MP on this initiative and more

Florida schools are targeting LGBTQ2S+ students in wake of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

A new policy in one school district could potentially require schools to out trans students

Iraq is poised to outlaw homosexuality for the first time in almost 20 years

Critics say a proposed law “will allow the Iraqi government to legally get away with murder”

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