Queer MPs slam Kenney's decision to edit gays out of citizenship guide

My second piece on the national page of Xtra.ca today (which would actually be three if you count the bonus post on my Hill Queeries blog, in journalism brief style), this was a story I wrote this afternoon which stemmed from a Canadian Press story, and I was basically gathering reaction for the Xtra audience. Pretty standard, yes, but it's been a while since I've been chasing a story like this, between prorogation and my being basically part-time while I'm doing my Masters. It was definitely a reminder of why I'm a journalist, and a nice refresher for what it's like being a reporter again - and I can't wait to get back to it in a month's time.

As Parliament resumes, a look at the upside of prorogation

The first of two articles up today on the national page of Xtra.ca, this was an editorial that I wrote a couple of days ago about the return of Parliament, and how perhaps there was a benefit to prorogation in the long run. It's not the first of these kinds of pieces that have been written, but nevertheless I was hoping to give the Xtra audience that same reminder that as voters we need to stay engaged now that we've been shaken from our complacency, lest another similar abuse of prorogation occur in the future. It was a piece I really enjoyed writing, and I'm hoping to do a few more of these kinds of pieces in the near future.

Be open for democracy's sake

I have a new editorial up on the Xtra.ca national page today which picks up on the whole issue around the outing of cabinet minister John Baird on CBC radio a couple of weeks ago. Having done a number of interviews with Senator Nancy Ruth over the past couple of years, and really getting to know the political machinery in Ottawa better, I felt it was a good opportunity to have more of a dialogue with the readership about partisan politics versus queer community politics. I'm hoping it'll generate discussion (and I'm sure I'll be accused of being a Conservative/Tory shill now as well as a Liberal shill), but there are marginalised political voices in the queer media, and maybe this will be a reminder that it is a broader canvas than some people think of it as.

Is this fiscal austerity?

Just a quick note to say that an edited version of my story on the unspoken costs of the Conservatives' tough-on-crime bills is in the current print edition of Capital Xtra under a new title, which has a link to the full piece on the website at the bottom. It's nice to see it get a print appearance a few weeks later.

Thoughts From the Hill - February Edition + Why Parliament Matters

The February issue of Outlooks is finally online and on the streets, and I have two pieces in it this month. The first is the monthly Thoughts From the Hill panel, and this month the question is on GLBT seniors' issues. This was supposed to have been part of a larger theme of seniors issues for the February issue, but the cross-promotion aspect fell though, and other pieces didn't come together in time, and well, things happen. But it was still a relevant panel question.

My second piece, Why Parliament Matters, is a rare editorial for me in Outlooks, and it was a pretty last-minute assignment, made timely by the current prorogation situation in Parliament. I returned to one of my overarching themes in my writing of making the business of government matter to Canadians, which is something that I believe we need to be reminded of, given our increasing rates of voter apathy and political disengagement - and a minority community like the GLBT community should be especially sensitive to that particular apathy. I think the piece acquitted itself well, and I'm especially chuffed by the layout - it got a beautiful two-page spread with a gorgeous shot of a fog-shrouded Parliament Hill in behind. Good job, layout department!

(I also very nearly ended up doing the Matt Dusk interview, but that plan fell through at the last minute, though given my schedule lately, I didn't mind all that much.)

Thoughts from the Hill is on page 10, and Why Parliament Matters is on pages 22 and 23. You can download the full issue in .pdf form here.

The unspoken cost of Harper's tough-on-crime bills

I have a new piece on the national page of Xtra.ca today, and it's one that I've spent the past couple of weeks working on. It was a bit of a tough go, trying to get all of the interviews over the holiday period and while everyone was getting back into their routines, but nevertheless everything worked out. In fact, I only wish I had more space to write, because this could easily have been a much longer piece.

I did post part of my interview with Senator Joan Fraser on my Hill Queeries blog - an interview which was an absolute pleasure to do, I might add.

Libby Davies on prorogation: "We're not going to let Stephen Harper off the hook"

I have a new piece on the national page of Xtra.ca today which takes a look at the prorogation issue taking place in Ottawa right now. Given that NDP House Leader Libby Davies is openly lesbian, it gives Xtra a better opening to engage on that issue. Davies is always a great interview, and it was great to get this bit of first-hand information on the issue.