Xtra!
Encyclopedia
Xtra! is a gay
magazine, on newsprint
in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
.
, a not-for-profit organization. It was introduced as a four-page tabloid, as a way to broaden PTP's Toronto readership. Pink Triangle Press had previously published The Body Politic, and currently publishes two "sister" magazines, Xtra! West
and Capital Xtra!
.
Xtra!s associate publisher and editorial director is Matt Mills. Marcus McCann is Xtra's managing editor. Previous managing editors included Paul Gallant
and Eleanor Brown.
Among its freelance writers over the past few years are author James Dubro, Gerald Hannon, Brent Ledger, Brenda Cossman and Richard Burnett
.
movies, magazines and websites, and sex-oriented clubs such as gay bathhouse
s, frequently accompanied by photographs.
in Vancouver
and Capital Xtra!
in Ottawa
. The three Xtra! papers also produce an annual Ultimate Pride Guide and an annual lesbian and gay business directory called Index.
Each of the Xtra! paper cities produce an annual Ultimate Pride Guide during the Pride festivals.
The Press also operates Xtra.ca and Squirt.org - an online guide to cruising - and Cruiseline, the popular gay chatline and talking classifieds phone systems.
The Press sold Cruiseline in March 2011 to First Media Group, operators of Manline.
Among its freelance writers over the past few years are author James Dubro, Gerald Hannon, Brent Ledger and Richard Burnett
.
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
magazine, on newsprint
Newsprint
Newsprint is a low-cost, non-archival paper most commonly used to print newspapers, and other publications and advertising material. It usually has an off-white cast and distinctive feel. It is designed for use in printing presses that employ a long web of paper rather than individual sheets of...
in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press
Pink Triangle Press
Pink Triangle Press is a Canadian non-profit organization which specializes in LGBT media including publishing, online interactive media, and television. PTP's main asset is the LGBT magazine, Xtra! and its spinoffs Xtra! West and Capital Xtra!...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History and content
Xtra! was founded in Toronto in March 1984 by Pink Triangle PressPink Triangle Press
Pink Triangle Press is a Canadian non-profit organization which specializes in LGBT media including publishing, online interactive media, and television. PTP's main asset is the LGBT magazine, Xtra! and its spinoffs Xtra! West and Capital Xtra!...
, a not-for-profit organization. It was introduced as a four-page tabloid, as a way to broaden PTP's Toronto readership. Pink Triangle Press had previously published The Body Politic, and currently publishes two "sister" magazines, Xtra! West
Xtra! West
Xtra Vancouver is a gay biweekly newspaper, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a sister publication to Xtra and Xtra Ottawa....
and Capital Xtra!
Capital Xtra!
Xtra Ottawa is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community newspaper published in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was launched in 1993. Unlike its biweekly sister publications Xtra in Toronto and Xtra Vancouver in Vancouver, Xtra Ottawa, which started as a monthly, is now published 17 times a...
.
Xtra!s associate publisher and editorial director is Matt Mills. Marcus McCann is Xtra's managing editor. Previous managing editors included Paul Gallant
Paul Gallant
Paul-Émile Gallant was a Canadian entrepreneur who invented the Puzz-3D three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. He is also credited with inventing both the Wrebbit Puzzle Machine, which is now known as the Puzzle Shots Factory, and the Perfalock flat foam puzzle.Gallant was born in Edmundston, New...
and Eleanor Brown.
Among its freelance writers over the past few years are author James Dubro, Gerald Hannon, Brent Ledger, Brenda Cossman and Richard Burnett
Richard Burnett
Richard Burnett is a writer, editor, journalist and columnist. His column and blog, "Three Dollar Bill", deals with gay life and culture across Canada and around the world....
.
Controversy
The publications have been criticized for featuring explicit photographs, including images of erect penises; the magazine often carries advertisements for pornographicPornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
movies, magazines and websites, and sex-oriented clubs such as gay bathhouse
Gay bathhouse
Gay bathhouses, also known as gay saunas or steam baths, are commercial bathhouses for men to have sex with other men. In gay slang in some regions these venues are also known colloquially as "the baths" or "the tubs," and should not be confused with public bathing.Not all men who visit gay...
s, frequently accompanied by photographs.
Other publications
In 1993, Xtra! expanded, adding the publications Xtra! WestXtra! West
Xtra Vancouver is a gay biweekly newspaper, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a sister publication to Xtra and Xtra Ottawa....
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and Capital Xtra!
Capital Xtra!
Xtra Ottawa is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community newspaper published in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was launched in 1993. Unlike its biweekly sister publications Xtra in Toronto and Xtra Vancouver in Vancouver, Xtra Ottawa, which started as a monthly, is now published 17 times a...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. The three Xtra! papers also produce an annual Ultimate Pride Guide and an annual lesbian and gay business directory called Index.
Each of the Xtra! paper cities produce an annual Ultimate Pride Guide during the Pride festivals.
The Press also operates Xtra.ca and Squirt.org - an online guide to cruising - and Cruiseline, the popular gay chatline and talking classifieds phone systems.
The Press sold Cruiseline in March 2011 to First Media Group, operators of Manline.
External links
Among its freelance writers over the past few years are author James Dubro, Gerald Hannon, Brent Ledger and Richard Burnett
Richard Burnett
Richard Burnett is a writer, editor, journalist and columnist. His column and blog, "Three Dollar Bill", deals with gay life and culture across Canada and around the world....
.