Culture

People are calling out the vile transphobia in Dave Chappelle’s new Netflix special

The comedian said “he’s done” with queer and trans jokes, yet filled a special with them

By Mel Woods

Culture

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ contestant Ilona Verley: ‘I’m supposed to be famous and I don’t have a roof over my head?’

How the show made it hard for Verley to make a living and how she felt she had to suppress her trans identity on screen

By KC Hoard

The Xtra Long Read

The hidden lives and uncertain future of trans prisoners

For decades, trans people in Canadian prisons fought for their right to be housed safely and humanely. Despite some victories, new policy proposals could set their rights back even more

By Simon Rolston

Identity

Tribunal rules that respecting pronouns is a human right

A non-binary server in B.C. was fired after asking that their workplace use their pronouns

By Mel Woods

Identity

‘I’m not sure how to forgive myself for surviving’

A writer asks if it is acceptable—or even possible—to feel happiness when so many trans people are dying

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Politics

More than 800,000 Canadians voted for a blatantly anti-trans party

Support for the People’s Party of Canada—a party that has promised to roll back trans rights—grew during this week’s election

By Mel Woods

Identity

In defense of the meaty tuck

An offhand comment at a party inspires editor-at-large Tre’vell Anderson to interrogate how we police trans bodies

By Tre’vell Anderson

Politics

LGBTQ2S+ candidates on the issues that matters most this federal election

Xtra surveyed dozens of queer and trans people running this year. Here’s what they said

By Mel Woods

The Xtra Long Read

The troubled golden age of trans literature

Despite recent successes, a growing chorus of trans writers are asking tough questions, like where’s the nuance and context in literary criticism, and who’s holding the publishing industry to account?

By Eli Cugini

Culture

7 kids’ shows that got LGBTQ2S+ representation right

From “She-Ra” to the “Muppet Babies,” children’s TV has been slaying the representation game

By Mel Woods

Tik Talk

Trans TikTokers have mastered the one-line joke

We already knew trans people had some hilarious jokes. But TikTok is where they’re showing them off.

By Mel Woods

Politics

How do Canada’s political parties rank on LGBTQ2S+ issues?

Where the parties stand on conversion therapy, poppers, trans health care and more

By Mel Woods

Books

For award-winning writer Casey Plett, the beauty of trans lives resides in the details

In her latest collection of short stories, characters find themselves in unexpected places and situations

By Niko Stratis

Politics

What are conscience rights and why are they in the Conservative platform?

What Erin O’Toole’s pledge to defend conscience rights means for LGBTQ2S+ people

By Mel Woods

Identity

A trans man modelled nude for 150 photographers, and fell in love with his body

Xtra contributor Andy Bandyopadhyay wanted to see artful, intimate portraits of trans men, so he made his own

By Andy Bandyopadhyay

The Xtra Long Read

Suicidal ideation, my intrusive visitor

Culturally, we fear talking about suicide. But for Niko Stratis, speaking openly about suicidal ideation was the only way to end its stigma

By Niko Stratis

Politics

How to tell if that ‘feminist’ election group is actually anti-trans

As the federal writ drops, TERFs will be out claiming to “protect women”

By Mel Woods

Identity

12 LGBTQ2S+ emojis we need now

New emojis are added to the Emojipedia yearly, but we still have some suggestions

By Mel Woods