Who We Are:

Some of the money earned by the Press was donated to local and international gay groups. But the bulk of it went into expanding the Press's traditional and continuing role: providing gay men and lesbians in Canada with "mass media in which to express their sexuality, share information, debate ideas and advocate actions."

Vancouver
Xtra West is managed independently by staff in Vancouver. It began publishing in July 1993 and has focussed on investigative journalism, analysis of news events, and the local arts and queer culture scene. Xtra West has won both provincial journalism awards and international queer journalism awards and has built a solid reputation as a spicy and visually appealing newspaper. Xtra West takes great pride in publishing local writing and photography talent; it's contributors include some of Canada's up-and-coming writers of fiction and creative non-fiction. The management team, led by publisher Ken Hickling, has a solid background in community newspapers.

Ottawa
Capital Xtra was launched in Ottawa in September 1993. Publisher Brandon Matheson brought with him Malebox, a bi-monthly classified ad magazine. The Press bought Malebox to reach its readers in many smaller centres across Canada. Malebox became Canadian Male, published from Toronto by Shawn Syms until 1998. The monthly Capital Xtra is moving toward self-sufficiency in its own community.

Toronto
Xtra is established as Toronto's leading gay publication. In April 1994, its former art director David Walberg was appointed publisher. Xtra has grown in size and influence, and the work of the fiesty Xtra team engages Toronto’s large gay and lesbian communities, and beyond.

Audiotext
The Audiotext division operates the highly successful gay chat line Cruiseline. First launched in Toronto back in 1990, Cruiseline now operates in Halifax, London, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.

Internet
Capital Xtra launched its Queer Capital website late in 1997. In 1999, Xtra publisher David Walberg launched www.xtra.ca as a complement to Xtra. The Press has recently launched Squirt which is designed to engage an international audience.

Our Mission:

The Body Politic collective of 1971 could hardly have imagined that what they started would last – so far – more than a quarter century, and would become a large and far-flung organization.

But they would be proud to know that their goals are still the goals we call our own. The Press's Mission Statement, though rewritten over time, still calls us to their original vision: the engagement of our communities in the struggle for our common liberation.