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.

Monthly Tune-Up

New tunes from Sleater-Kinney and Kevin Abstract

Plus drag queen Pattie Gonia’s environmental anthem performed with trans Indigenous singer-songwriter Quinn Christopherson and acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma

By Jordan Currie

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Miss Chief’s memoirs, ‘Next Goal Wins,’ drag kings, gay bar history and more

Looking for a happy cry? S. Bear Bergman has you covered

By S. Bear Bergman

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Hot thrills from João Dall’Stella and a sexy musical with Baby Tate

Plus Kareem Khubchandani, W.A.W. Parker and a queer theatre series online

By S. Bear Bergman

Music

Jeremy Dutcher: The Two-Spirit artist singing to a generation of ‘rainbow children’

The Wolastoqiyik composer hopes his second album and cross-country tour conjures up queer magic

By Riley Yesno

Queer Ink

Two-Spirit artists explore gender, culture through Indigenous tattoos

When it comes to traditional Indigenous tattoos, Two-Spirit artists are “genderqueering the practice”

By Julia Peterson

Indigenous

‘We are preserving a narrative:’ Two-Spirit archive shares queer Indigenous history

University of Winnipeg Two-Spirit archive puts queer Indigenous life in the spotlight

By Julia Peterson

TV & Film

A young boy blossoms in the desert in ‘Frybread Face and Me’ at TIFF

REVIEW: Director Billy Luther’s feature debut is an absolutely charming coming-of-age story set in the Navajo Nation of Arizona

By Danita Steinberg

Politics

‘It would really change the landscape.’ Two-Spirit trans activist Monica Forrester reflects on her mayoral candidacy

Forrester entered the race to hold candidates to account on the issues affecting Toronto’s most marginalized communities

By Julia Peterson

Identity

Indigenous trans woman seeks changes over ‘unnecessarily degrading’ prison policy

“It violates my privacy and dignity.” Fallon Aubee says the government of Canada is exposing her personal information without consent

By Denio Lourenco

Indigenous

Two-Spirit people across Canada face precarious housing situations. This project hopes to change that

The Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance, who will build and operate the project, hope it will be the first of many Two-Spirit targeted housing initiatives in Canada

By Mzwandile Poncana

Queering Family

Tracing my drag family tree

Winnipeg queen Prairie Sky on the bonds that keep her drag children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces and aunties close

By Prairie Sky

Indigenous

Two-Spirit youth gift-giving project demonstrates the power of community care

The project hopes to alleviate the loneliness and alienation the youth might face during the winter

By Mzwandile Poncana

Power

Facing new accusations, Pride Toronto allegedly forged at least one signature on $1 million grant application

The non-profit is under fire again for purportedly lying about partnership with renowned Indigenous artist Kent Monkman

By Krishna Rau

Books

‘We have defined, for ourselves, what our relationship looks like:’ Candy Palmater in an excerpt from her new memoir

In “Running Down a Dream,” Candy Palmater recounts how dating the woman who was to be her wife felt different from dating men

By Candy Palmater

Books

In Billy-Ray Belcourt’s ‘A Minor Chorus,’ happiness seems to lurk just out of reach

“Despite trauma and tragedy, we Indigenous people and queer people produce joy in our lives”: Billy-Ray Belcourt on his new novel

By Cameron Perrier

TV & Film

Four queer Canadian directors talk bringing grit and glitter to TIFF 2022

The filmmakers behind “Something You Said Last Night” “ROSIE” and more are queering the Toronto International Film Festival

By Pat Mullen

Books

Joshua Whitehead’s new book of essays is a bold testament to the power of Two-Spirit storytelling

Playing with format and voice, the award-winning Indigenous writer not only makes love with the land—he makes love with language

By Ronkwahrhakónha Dube

Music

Tomson Highway invites listeners to ‘Cree Country,’ the Two-Spirit artist’s new Cree-language country album

The celebrated playwright, author and musician teams up with singer Patricia Cano in a loving act of reclamation

By Jesse Locke