Extra! Extra!: A Socially Distant Democracy
This week’s Extra! Extra! considers the shocking indictment against Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and what democratic action looks like during social distancing.
Politics + Activism
Respect Your Elders: Tea with Trans Lesbian Poet Barbara Marie Minney
Lou Barrett sits down with Barbara Marie Minney to talk about coming out later in life, being a trans lesbian poet, and BDSM.
Extra! Extra!: People Are Rising to the Occasion with COVID-19, Many Governments Not So Much
This week’s COVID-19 news roundup sheds light on what’s going on with the stimulus package and how governments are using this moment to consolidate power. And we continue to have the same old fights around reproductive rights, immigration and health care.
Extra! Extra!: Chelsea Manning Will Be Free, and More News Amid This Strange Week
Privacy rights, Chelsea Manning’s release from prison, examples of direct action and its results for Indigenous people of Canada, election updates and more.
Four Ways the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Affecting the LGBTQ+ Community
In this pandemic, we are watching the compounded failures of capitalism and narcissistic government play out. We’re seeing issues that primarily target marginalized communities now take a broader toll. But as members of marginalized communities, we know what that means: our community is getting hit even harder than before.
Here’s Your Latest COVID-19 and Coronavirus News, Updated Throughout the Week
To keep everyone abreast of the latest pandemic-related news, we’re creating a Coronavirus edition of Extra! Extra! that will be regularly updated with the latest news. We’ll continue our regular Extra! Extra! column each Friday with non-Coronavirus news because, after all, the world keeps on turning.
Democratic Debate #11: Sanders and Biden Vie for Leadership Points in First Post-Corona Debate
Whatever you think of Biden or Sanders, they stood on last night’s debate stage with a firm command of the facts, plans to tackle the issue and a willingness to let America’s response be dictated by experts. The difference between the parties could not be more stark.
Meet The Queer Activist Teaching Sex Ed to LGBTQ Appalachian Youth
“Bad sex education for queer kids it’s so violent and erasing and makes kids in rural places feel even more isolated.”
Extra! Extra!: All the COVID-19 News Fit to Print, With Commentary
There is A Lot of news about coronavirus right now; we won’t try to cover all of it, but here’s a curated selection of things we think are important to read and be aware of, along with some context and commentary. Rest assured, we have many important, non-Coronavirus topics slated for next week.
Extra! Extra!: Have a Little Knowledge About the State of Voting Rights, As a Treat
Autostraddle writers discuss voter suppression, reproductive rights and access to care, and the fights for basic rights and freedoms around the world in this week’s Extra! Extra! Rejoice with us as London prepares to host the first Muslim pride festival in the world, coming April 11!
Super Tuesday Breakdown: Biden’s Swift Rise Really Doesn’t Have to Be the End
Yes, there’s Biden and Bernie and Elizabeth Warren, but also what about the smaller races you didn’t even know you cared about — like Georgette Gomez vying to become the first out queer Latina in Congress!
I Care But I’m Restless, I’m Here But I’m Really Gone: A 2020 Presidential Election Roundtable
The 2020 presidential election is a classic Alanis Morissette one hand preparing our dystopian bunker, the other one playing the piano, situation. Our writers and editors tell us about their greatest concerns and how they’re approaching their votes.
Extra! Extra!: Conservative Supergroups and Progressive Campaign Organizing, Oh My!
This week’s Extra, Extra! brings you some reflections on the 2020 US election (not the primary!) from our beloved political writer and 2020 Democratic Debate Recapper Natalie, more disheartening immigration and LGBTQ+ news, conservative organizing, a new progressive campaign arm from AOC, and an update on the Wet’suwet’en land protectors.
Democratic Debate #10: Well That Sure Was Something, Namely a Mess
Because you’ve already heard from me on a lot of these issues already this week, I recruited one of Autostraddle’s newest contributors, Himani — the brains behind our expansive political survey — to join me to discuss all the fireworks from Charleston.
The Quiet Lesbian Biography of Lorraine Hansberry
There is sufficient evidence, both from Lorraine Hansberry’s own hand and from those with whom she interacted socially, that she was a lesbian. But the how of it all — that we have to piece together in fragments.
Respect Your Elders: Tea and Trans History With Jacob Nash
Lou Barrett sits down with Jacob Nash to his experiences being out and trans since the ’90s.
Extra! Extra!: Between US Immigration, Political Deepfakes and Hanau Attack, It’s Not Looking Great
In this week’s Extra, Extra! we discuss immigration, healthcare, and political interference. Additional links touch on white supremacist violence in Germany, the climate crisis, and censorship around the world.
Democratic Debate #9: Elizabeth Warren Showcases Her Strategy for Beating Trump by Eviscerating Mike Bloomberg
Aside from launching skilled attacks at her opponents, she was always ready to pivot back to a story about a Nevadan or highlight the specific plight of black and brown people. I think she made her case that if you want a candidate who can go toe-to-toe with an “arrogant billionaire,” she’s ready.
Let Us Consider St. Gertrude, the Cat Lady Alternative to St. Patrick
St. Patrick’s Day, every non-Irish person’s favourite excuse to get piss drunk, talk in an annoying accent all day and cover everything in Green is coming up once again. But why celebrate an embarrassingly tacky version of someone else’s religious holiday when you can hold a party for the patron saint of cat ladies, Gertrude of Nivelles, instead.
Extra! Extra!: A New News & Politics Roundup Just for You
Autostraddle’s political news roundup is a new weekly series where we will watch the world burn down together and try, in our way, to put out one small fire. This is a space where Autostraddle writers will come together to discuss the latest current events and why we think they’re important. This week: impeachment proceedings, rights for trans kids in South Dakota, Pete Buttigieg and more!