Now is the time of year when Toronto is at its best. Warm, sunny days (that will soon give way to oppressive heat and humidity). Streets and parks are teeming with folks enjoying the simple fact that they’re outside with their friends, kids or dogs. This sense of collective joy arrives as we begin to celebrate Pride Month, both here in Canada and in many places around the world.

Of course, not everyone will “celebrate” Pride Month. And that’s a damn shame. I’ve been to Pride events in Toronto and other cities and it’s always an amazing party. And yet, the headlines have been dominated this week with so many anti-2SLGBTQ+ stories – even when it comes to baseball and beer!

It’s not unusual for us to receive angry emails from people after we publish stories that focus on gay and trans rights. Just yesterday, someone wrote to me and said: “I’m sick of the trans lgbq thing. Please let it go.” Sorry reader, we won’t “let it go.” And my guess is that the folks who send us these types of messages haven’t bothered to read the articles or listen to our podcasts. That’s a shame, because learning about an issue that you may not encounter in your everyday life might just open your mind … and your heart.

Our authors who write about trans and gay issues have spent years researching the impacts of discriminatory laws and the harmful effects on people who feel hate on a regular basis. For your weekend reading, I’ve assembled a collection of stories published across the global network of The Conversation that show discrimination against queer and trans people is not just a Canadian issue, but a worldwide problem.

Have a rainbow weekend. We’ll be back in your Inbox on Monday.

Scott White

CEO | Editor-in-Chief

Weekend Reads: Pride Month

Summer reading: 5 books that explore LGBTQ teen and young adult life

Jonathan Alexander, University of California, Irvine

A scholar of young adult fiction presents a fresh list of LGBTQ ‘must-reads’ for the summer of 2023.

Trans joy and family bonds are big parts of the transgender experience lost in media coverage and anti-trans legislation

Derek P. Siegel, UMass Amherst

Trans motherhood showcases the unique joys of being transgender, be it through developing a deeper connection with one’s own child or caring for others in one’s community.

Achieving full inclusion in schools: Lessons from New Brunswick

Melissa Dockrill Garrett, University of New Brunswick; Andrea Garner, University of New Brunswick

Research about how New Brunswick education has envisioned inclusion since the 1980s offers lessons in rethinking how to realize schools that celebrate all students’ strengths.

Five things to know about Drag Queen Story Time

Conor Barker, Mount Saint Vincent University; Daniel G. Seguin, Mount Saint Vincent University

Drag Queen Story Time events have faced backlash and protests recently. But contrary to misconceptions, these events can support child development and promote acceptance.

New anti-transgender laws will hurt Indigenous peoples’ rights and religious expression

Rosalyn R. LaPier, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

An Indigenous scholar writes that Indigenous peoples have historically recognized multiple gender identities, which they believe are a result of divine intervention.

Israeli protesters fear for the future of their country’s precarious LGBTQ rights revolution

Orit Avishai, Fordham University

LGBTQ rights are not the main issue bringing Israeli protesters to the streets, but they do symbolize the country’s stark divide.

Turkey: what to expect from Erdoğan, his ultranationalist alliance and their ‘family values’ pledges

Balki Begumhan Bayhan, Coventry University

Turkey’s president has solidified his political power by allying with ultranationalist groups.

Why outside experts are worried about the decline of LGBTI rights in the UK

Peter Dunne, University of Bristol

A UN independent expert has sounded the alarm about the state of human rights for LGBTI people in the UK.

Being queer in Africa: the state of LGBTIQ+ rights across the continent

Zethu Matebeni, University of Fort Hare

In over 30 countries LGBTIQ+ people would face imprisonment. Progress has been made but there is still a long way to go.

Indian activists call for recognition of queer relationships beyond marriage

Sohini Chatterjee, Western University

Trans and queer kinships provide emotional as well as material supports and care. But legalizing marriage alone would ignore such kinship ties.

Weekend Listening

Listen: Trans scholar and activist explains why trans rights are under attack

Vinita Srivastava, The Conversation; Boké Saisi, The Conversation

This year, there are more than 400 active anti-trans bills across the U.S. What do things look like in Canada? Are we a safe haven or are we following those same trends?

Governments and environmental groups are turning to international courts to address the impacts of climate change — podcast

Daniel Merino, The Conversation; Nehal El-Hadi, The Conversation

Governments and activist groups are bringing environmental issues to international courts. They argue that the impact of climate change and environmental issues affect human rights.