After a year in isolation, returning to Pride was an exercise in finding joy

L.A.-based writer Jon Higgins reflects on Pride Day at Universal Studios, and the thrill of being surrounded by community again

By Jon Higgins

Activism

How small towns are celebrating Pride Month

Xtra catches up with the folks from our “Small Town Pride” documentary to see what Pride is like during a pandemic

By Riley Sparks

The Xtra Long Read

What does Pride look like in a post-pandemic world?

Pride festivals around the world are grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19, a global racial reckoning and corporate criticisms. At Pride Toronto, managing the future of the event means tackling it all head-on

By Cameron Perrier

Xtra Weekly

Topline: Behold the 2021 Pride campaign hall of shame

Was there a single queer person in the room when these ads were conceived?

By Erica Lenti

Identity

More than 1 million Canadians identify as LGBTQ2S+

New Statistics Canada data show the diversity of Canada’s queer community

By Mel Woods

Queer Culture Catch-Up

Whether you’re commemorating Pride history or just wanna boogie, here’s our ultimate event list

Our recommendations for what’s happening for the second half of Pride month, beginning June 17

By S. Bear Bergman

Politics

Trans people are calling out Biden’s hollow Pride message

The U.S. president tweeted support for “brave” trans youth. Trans people have thoughts

By Mel Woods

Tik Talk

TikTokers are hilariously skewering corporate Pride

These takedowns of companies that are sharing Pride messages without actually doing the work are *chef’s kiss*

By Mel Woods

Queer Culture Catch-Up

When queer love comes a-calling, here’s why you need to answer

Our recommendations for what’s happening for the first half of Pride month, beginning June 3

By S. Bear Bergman

Power

The best clapbacks to the ‘no kink at Pride’ discourse

Leather, kink, bare asses and a titty or two are a fundamental part of Pride

By Mel Woods

Culture

Companies are back at it with the Pride nonsense

From glitter cereal to whatever Target is doing, we’ve launched an ongoing rating of this year’s crop of rainbow capitalism

By Mel Woods

Power

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