World’s largest Catholic school district votes to finally recognize Pride

The Toronto Catholic District School Board’s decision, which includes flying the Pride flag at all its schools in June, comes after years of opposition

By Mel Woods

Education

Most Catholic school boards still refuse to recognize Pride

At the world’s largest publicly funded Catholic school board, located in Toronto, the object lesson is prejudice and indifference

By Erica Lenti

Identity

Celebrating fat queer bodies

Why a fat-centric celebration in Manchester could be the next frontier in inclusive Prides for all

By Gina Tonic

Culture

4 LGBTQ2 happenings to wind you up or down right now

What to watch, read, listen to or look at: August 20

By Sarah Taher

Hate Watch

The anatomy of a city with a hate problem

With few safe spaces for LGBTQ2 communities and a burgeoning alt-right movement, Hamilton, Ontario has become a microcosm of other urban centres grappling with hate

By HG Watson

History

The trans doctor who helped flatten the curve a century ago

Dr. Alan Hart’s groundbreaking use of X-ray in the 1920s helped save the lives of patients with Tuberculosis, a reminder of the LGBTQ2 doctors at the frontlines of public health crises

By Sarah Prager

Culture

Role models to celebrate, according to Black and brown queer people

Black and brown voices rarely get the recognition they deserve. These queer and trans educators, writers, activists and journalists share their role models

By Jon Higgins

Culture

8 ways to celebrate Pride online

From virtual cabarets and big-time entertainment to activist workshops, find the right vibe of Pride for you

By Sarah Taher

Youth

Youth, Pride and COVID-19

York University prof Jen Gilbert explains how LGBTQ2 teens are coping with Pride events being cancelled

By Sarah Taher

DIY Pride

Where to get your (remote) art fix during Pride

Six virtual exhibits on this summer bring LGBTQ2 art from the gallery into your home

By Meredith J. Batt

DIY Pride

When it comes to Pride, size doesn’t matter

As Pride events around the world are downsized, cancelled or moved online, organizers of some of the smallest LGBTQ2 Prides in Canada offer lessons on community-building

By Xtra Video

DIY Pride

‘Reclaiming the daylight’: Learning from Prides past

An older generation of activists recall the joyous power of their groundbreaking protests and celebrations

By Kate Sosin

Your Communities in Action

These Alberta students planned a digital prom for LGBTQ2 teens

Laurell Pallot and Lily Overacker organized a Pride prom to celebrate graduates over Zoom—from runway shows and prom court to reading circles

By Sarah Taher

Inside Xtra

Why Xtra is giving away ad space this Pride season

We’re partnering with LGBTQ2 organizations whose fundraising has been disrupted by COVID-19 to help them boost their message

By Mitchell Cheeseman

Power

I dreamt of a march for Black queer liberation

The street awoke with the clang of our resilience ricocheting off the blank stares and raised eyebrows: They stared, we marched, they stared, we marched

By Cicely-Belle Blain

Inside Xtra

This would have been the season of glitter and rainbows

But with COVID-19, widespread anti-Black violence and mass protests against police brutality, this isn’t the time for a glittering Pride. We stand with LGBTQ2 folk as they, once more, aim to rise to the moment

By Rachel Giese

DIY Pride

What’s happening with every Pride in the world

Okay, maybe not every Pride, but a whole whack of them—with updates on what’s been cancelled, postponed or moved online

By Xtra Staff

Ask Kai: Advice for the Apocalypse

I’m an old gay rights activist who wants to support the younger generation. Shouldn’t I expect that support in return?

By Kai Cheng Thom