From local bars to national TV, Karamilk has championed Ottawa’s drag scene
After stepping onto the stage at Ottawa’s Lookout Bar for her very first drag performance two years ago, Carleton graduate Karamilk has made her national debut on the sixth season of Canada’s Drag Race.
The man behind the queen: Eric Vance brings ‘sunshine’ to Ottawa drag
In the Ottawa drag scene, Eric Vance is better known as Sunshine Glitterchild, the queen he's performed as for nearly five years.
Gender-based violence support groups criticize planned federal funding cuts
Support services and organizations may face significant challenges because of a proposed 80 per cent budget cut towards their federal funding.
Uncertainty about federal funding cuts raising concern for women and 2SLGBTQIA+ Ottawa programs
As the federal budget fast approaches, women and 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations demand funding levels for Women and Gender Equality Canada be maintained.
More than books: The Ottawa Trans Library is preserving and building a culture
With challenges on 2SLBGTQ+ books on the rise in Canada and American libraries, Alice Holland is one of the volunteers at the Ottawa Trans Library, protecting trans art and building community to counter transphobia and censorship.
Fairy Cowboy Tours aims to preserve and celebrate Ottawa’s 2SLGBTQ+ history
Wearing a cowboy hat, a drawn-on moustache and glittery fairy wings, drag artist Morgan Mercury strolls around downtown Ottawa while sharing stories of 2SLGBTQ+ trailblazers who once called the city home.
Touch Grass is creating a community in Ottawa around queer ballroom dance
or Zineb Allaoui, being part of the queer ballroom scene has been instrumental in helping her find a sense of belonging in Ottawa. After immigrating to Canada from Morocco five years ago, Allaoui said finding the Kiki ballroom scene allowed her to express her queerness in a way she couldn’t back home.
Carleton’s gender support hub expects backlash after Trump’s ‘two sexes’ edict
Advocates and members of Carleton University’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community say they’re bracing for the possibility of “more abuse” and discrimination in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proclamation that the American government will only recognize “two sexes, male and female.” Following Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, he swiftly rescinded 78 of former Democratic president Joe Biden’s executive orders and began...
‘Daddy’s Issues’ to tackle transphobia, grief at undercurrents theatre festival
Written by Merlin Simard, now based in Toronto, and directed by Montrealer Lior Maharjan, a reading of Daddy’s Issues is set to run at Ottawa Fringe’s undercurrents theatre festival Feb. 14 and 15.
Rising hate crimes targeting LGBTQ2+ community in Ottawa has many concerned
Hate crimes against the LGBTQ2+ community in Ottawa have been rising rapidly over the last six years, according to data from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) putting many in the community on edge.
Breaking new ground: The Lookout Bar crowns it’s first king as Ottawa’s Next Drag Superstar
The Lookout Bar, Ottawa’s 2SLGBTQIA+ bar and nightclub, has crowned BJ Stroker as the winner of Ottawa’s Next Drag Superstar: All Stars, making him the first drag king to win the eight-week long competition. BJ, along with other drag artists in Ottawa, calls it a big win for drag kings because they are often overlooked and underrepresented in the community....
Pride Week opens in controversy over organizer’s pro-Palestine statement
Ottawa’s annual weeklong Pride festival begins this weekend in the middle of a controversy following a statement by organizing group, Capital Pride, expressing solidarity with Palestine. The move prompted the Jewish Federation of Ottawa to withdraw its support for the event and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to refuse to participate in events during Pride Week run by Capital Pride itself....
Ottawa celebrates 11th International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
Local and national leaders commemorated International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on Friday.
Queer community hosts ‘proudly Jewish’ Purim variety show at Arts Court
More than 50 members of city’s queer Jewish community gathered in downtown Ottawa to celebrate story of survival and resilience
Inclusive events woven into Winterlude show Ottawa is ‘celebrating Pride 365’
Winter Pride offers inclusion and community during the annual Winterlude festivities.
Protesters rally for trans youth as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith visits Ottawa
Hundreds packed Parliament Hill on Monday to protest the arrival of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in town, after she announced proposed restrictions on transgender youth. Smith was in Ottawa to mark the opening of a provincial office in the city that will be used to make Alberta’s case to the federal government and to participate in at an event near...
City builder: Charlie Senack connects with Kitchissippi as the editor of a community newspaper
Charlie Senack is the editor of the Kitchissippi Times and a hard-working journalist delving into issues that affect the residents of this part of Ottawa.
City builder: Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah works to protect and advocate for trans and queer youth
Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah is a queer Ghanaian-Canadian activist and the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity.
Ottawa’s queer-owned, queer-friendly businesses spread kindness one sale at a time
Queer owned and queer friendly businesses across Ottawa are working to provide a safe space for all members of the community by promoting inclusivity and diversity.
Inclusive choir Tone Cluster embarks on 30th year as a ‘chosen family’ in Ottawa
Choir members reflect on the 2SLGBTQIA+ choir's legacy and the importance of designated safe spaces.
City builder: Tony Bui works hard to forge communal bonds in Ottawa
Tony Bui uses his personal journey of identity to offer tangible solutions for communal 2LGBTQIA+ safe spaces.
B.C. leads the way with free contraception: Will other provinces follow?
With the B.C. government set to implement their free contraception plan this April, reproductive health activists are leading the push for free access in Ontario.
Drag defenders: Supporters of ‘love’ and inclusivity thwart angry protesters at NAC storytime standoff
A Drag Storytime event at the National Arts Centre was the scene of a protest by the conservative Christian group Save Canada. Counter-protesters pushed back and the event went ahead.
After NAC protest and scuttled parade, Winter Pride celebrates 2SLGBTQI+ unity with Ice Party
Ottawa’s 2SLGBT+ community and their allies celebrated in solidarity at an Ice Party on the Rink of Dreams outside City Hall last Sunday. This outdoor dance party provided the community with a safe space to assemble and party amidst the recent backlash for Winter Pride’s Drag Storytime.
A king of Drag: Ottawa’s Omari B. Johnson has found passion in performance
On Feb. 10, 2023, the National Gallery of Canada is hosting their second annual Queer Black Excellence Showcase in collaboration with Capital Pride to celebrate Winter Pride.
Speaking up: Bid to stop Peterson’s Ottawa talk strengthens activists’ solidarity
Local activists banded together in a bid to block controversial author and speaker Jordan Peterson from holding an event at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Artist creates safe space for creative disability advocacy in virtual event
Sarah Mihara Creagen shared her story about living with Crohn’s disease – a medical condition where the body attacks normal healthy cells – and her journey of finding escapism and relief through studying plants.
Resurgent ’emo’ subculture reminds a troubled world it’s okay to be ‘not okay’
“Emo” is a largely American, music-based subculture that gained traction in the early 2000s, eventually going global, before fading into the background around 2014-2015. It is making a comeback in the wake of the pandemic and Trump.
Alleged attack on non-binary firefighter sparks scrutiny of anti-LGBTQ+ hostility
Charges of hate crimes against two Ottawa firefighters indicates a wider concern facing non-binary individuals.
Scar cover-ups: Tackling trauma with tattoos
Ottawa tattoo artist Becky D is helping their clients heal and bring beauty to their scars through tattooing.
Stop accusing celebrities of queerbaiting — they’re human, too
Queerbaiting is a marketing tactic, but celebrities including Taylor Swift and Harry Styles don't queerbait—they're human, not corporations.
Trans ID clinic reopening in downtown Ottawa this month
Kind Space, a 2SLGBTQIA+ community centre in Ottawa, is reopening their Trans ID clinic this October.
Hate on the rise in Ottawa, police say and victims are bearing the brunt
The number of hate crimes reported to Ottawa police continues to rise for a third year in a row.
Paddling with Pride: Algonquin student creates therapeutic recreation program to bring queer youth together
Ottawa student launches an inclusive paddling program for 2SLGBTQ+ youth to enjoy summer fun!
Parties and protests as Ottawa celebrates an in-person Canada Day for first time in two years
Canadians protested and partied to mark Canada Day.
Ottawa protestors condemn U.S. abortion decision and note concerns about access to the procedure in Canada
Protestors gathered in downtown Ottawa on Friday afternoon denouncing the U.S. Supreme court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The 25th Hour: Drag Queen Saltina, Shaking It Up
Saltina Shaker is one of Ottawa's up and coming drag queens. Outside of performing full time, she also advocates for disabilities online.
Shining a light: Trans youth group opens a door to discussion of inclusive sex education
Local transgender youth group SAEFTY recently hosted an online workshop to teach the basics of sex education for trans folks.
Night of storytelling about the impact of HIV/AIDS raises funds for local groups, maintenance of memorial quilt
Storytelling evening brings the truth about living with HIV/AIDS to Ottawa.
Finding queer joy in sober spaces
Sober queer spaces often do the life-saving work of connecting 2SLGBTQ+ folks with community.
Flag-raising marks Pride Festival milestone at Carleton
The Pride Flag was raised at Carleton to kick off the first institutionally funded Pride Festival
Advocacy groups call on city to make Ottawa safer for trans people
Groups are urging city council to take a stand against hate directed at trans people in Ottawa. So far no reaction of note.
Huge gap in services for transgender newcomers, community workers in Ottawa say
Staff at local organizations say existing services in Ottawa often fail to centre trans newcomers' intersecting identities.
For LGBTQ+ Arab youth finding identity and acceptance is a complex struggle
LGBTQ+ Arab Canadians face many hurdles in finding acceptance of their sexuality.
Capital Pride is underway with virtual and in-person events highlighting #WeStillDemand
Capital Pride 2021, running from Aug. 22 to 29, celebrates Ottawa's LGBTQ2 community with virtual and in-person events.
Trans Canada Project gives transgender and non-binary people a platform to share their stories
The Trans Canada Project was started by Kelly Schwab and Cary Scott earlier this year to share stories of trans and non-binary Canadians.
Political issues and COVID-19 fuelling rise in hate crimes in Ottawa in 2021
Ottawa police statistics show a 33 per cent rise in hate crimes so far in 2021.
AIDS turns 40: Hope for the future after decades of sorrow and stigma
Forty years ago the world was learning about a condition called AIDS. Today, during a pandemic, there is new hope that science can offer better treatment.
Anglican parish disappointed by Petawawa council decision to not raise Pride flag
Five Anglican ministers are expressing disappointment with the recent decision by the Petawawa town council to not fly the Pride flag because of a 23 year old municipal resolution prohibiting such public displays. The ministers from the Parish of the Valley made their point about Resolution 11 in an open letter addressed to Mayor Bob Sweet released Wednesday. All Saints...
Pride flag won’t fly in Petawawa because of Resolution 11, council decides
The Town of Petawawa about 90 minutes west of Ottawa has rejected a motion to fly the Pride flag.