NDP endorses Turmel as interim leader

I have a new story up on the national page of Xtra.ca about the NDP caucus decision to endorse Nycole Turmel as the party's interim leader. While everyone was on this particular story, I did manage to get a couple of really great interviews with Libby Davies and Randall Garrison, and got some great quotes to go with a piece that the rest of the pack was covering. I also managed to get some additional interviews for the Hill Queeries blog, which made for a busy day.

Parliamentary anti-Semitism report tabled

I have a new piece up on the national page of Xtra.ca about the CPCCA report that was tabled last week. Unlike any of the other outlets who wrote on the topic, mine focused a bit more on the Queers Against Israeli Apartheid connection, as well as focusing a bit more on some of the recommendations that came out in the report. My editors in Toronto added a bit more context and some links around the Ontario legislature debate, which is wholly appreciated. And hey, I managed to take a half-decent photo with the sometimes problematic lighting in the Charles Lynch Press Theatre.

Paying for HIV prevention

I have a new story on the national page of Xtra.ca today, which takes a look at the issue of catastrophic drug coverage across the country, particularly through the issue of HIV medication. I was first alerted to the issue not only through the last election (and numerous questions in Question Period), but when I was invited to be on a media panel at the Canadian AIDS Society's annual general meeting a few weeks ago, and one of the participants talked about this issue. A few things ended up on the editing room floor, including some mention of a couple other issues of coverage in some provinces, explicitly saying that the pharmaceutical companies aren't the bad guys in this, and talk about the Romanow and Kirby reports, but overall the piece should hopefully generate some good discussion about the issue.

NDP resolves to deny charitable status to ex-gay organizations

I have a new story up on the national page of Xtra.ca today, which is a bit late but I'm glad it's up nevertheless. Despite the delays (it took a long time to get in touch with the new GLBTT Commission co-chair, and then delayed at the editorial end because of Toronto Pride coverage), I'm glad I was able to not only draw together some of the queer-themed happenings from the NDP convention, but also was able to find a queer angle to one of the other stories from the convention, being the "socialism" debate.