Toronto producer Ché on defying labels in music and identity

Steve Chabala, who performs under the name Ché, is a Toronto-based producer, singer-songwriter and musician. He discusses his songwriting process and how queer folks are reclaiming pop music.

Listen to songs by Ché here, plus more tracks from other Xtra featured artists like Sydanie, Witch Prophet, Cartel Madras and more.

Keep Reading

A black and white still from the gay silent film Different From The Others.

This 1919 gay rights movie was almost erased from history

“Different from the Others” is considered one of the first sympathetic portrayals of gay men on film. It was nearly destroyed
Two photos by gay photographer Duane Michals, who passed in June of 2026

Remembering Duane Michals, the legendary gay photographer

The late gay artist redefined what was possible in fine art photography

New study finds Canadian trans youth rarely detransition

A group of Canadian researchers found that 97 percent of youth who seek treatment for gender dysphoria still identify as trans years later
Two photos from the Toronto bathhouse riots of 1971

The bleak history of the Toronto bathhouse raids

In 1981, Toronto police arrested nearly 300 gay men as part of a six-month undercover operation called “Operation Soap”
Advertisement