Mel Woods
@melwoods.me
Senior Editor, Audience Engagement at xtramagazine.com 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
(they/them) from the prairies, now in Vancouver
I also play Magic: The Gathering a lot
Subscribe to my newsletter, Ranch Baby: https://ranch-baby.ghost.io/
Work with me: melwoods.me
(they/them) from the prairies, now in Vancouver
I also play Magic: The Gathering a lot
Subscribe to my newsletter, Ranch Baby: https://ranch-baby.ghost.io/
Work with me: melwoods.me
Pinned
Mel Woods
@melwoods.me
· May 1
Big news: We're launching a podcast!
Announcing Get Queer, a new LGBTQ2S+ pop culture podcast from Xtra Magazine, hosted by @melwoods.me
This season dives into the history of how reality TV has shaped queer identity.
New episodes drop weekly starting May 8 ✨
xtramagazine.com/get-queer-po...
Announcing Get Queer, a new LGBTQ2S+ pop culture podcast from Xtra Magazine, hosted by @melwoods.me
This season dives into the history of how reality TV has shaped queer identity.
New episodes drop weekly starting May 8 ✨
xtramagazine.com/get-queer-po...
This podcast has been such a labour of love for years (!!) at this point, and I am so excited to share it with the world.
Subscribe in all the places!!
Subscribe in all the places!!
We gave Hobgoblin The Substance and this is what came out
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
We gave Hobgoblin The Substance and this is what came out
Some personal news: A hot new baby has entered the villa
November 25, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Some personal news: A hot new baby has entered the villa
Remake Zardoz (1974) you cowards!!! www.vulture.com/article/univ...
Universal Is Ready to ‘Figure Out’ More Wicked Sequels
“We have almost a responsibility to figure out how we can continue in this universe,” Universal’s chief marketing officer tells us.
www.vulture.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Remake Zardoz (1974) you cowards!!! www.vulture.com/article/univ...
Headed home after a fulfilling weekend catching up with pals, playing a lot of Magic and seeing the Calgary sights.
Wild that it's been more than eight years since I lived here ... feels like yesterday. Much has changed and much has stayed the same.
Wild that it's been more than eight years since I lived here ... feels like yesterday. Much has changed and much has stayed the same.
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Headed home after a fulfilling weekend catching up with pals, playing a lot of Magic and seeing the Calgary sights.
Wild that it's been more than eight years since I lived here ... feels like yesterday. Much has changed and much has stayed the same.
Wild that it's been more than eight years since I lived here ... feels like yesterday. Much has changed and much has stayed the same.
Passing achievement unlocked: Multiple men at the Calgary airport lounge bar thought I worked on the oil sands and starting talking about football with me unprompted.
Gender is wild!!!
Gender is wild!!!
November 25, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Passing achievement unlocked: Multiple men at the Calgary airport lounge bar thought I worked on the oil sands and starting talking about football with me unprompted.
Gender is wild!!!
Gender is wild!!!
Reposted by Mel Woods
if I could just hold one (1) seal tightly for about five minutes I think it could fix me 😭
November 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
if I could just hold one (1) seal tightly for about five minutes I think it could fix me 😭
Reposted by Mel Woods
The City of Vancouver is changing its funding model for the city’s last drop-in space for vulnerable sex workers, leading to concerns it may have to close.
Kingsway Community Station supports some of the most marginalized people in our city. by @michellegamage.bsky.social thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Kingsway Community Station supports some of the most marginalized people in our city. by @michellegamage.bsky.social thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Vancouver’s Last Sex Worker Drop-In Centre May Shutter in Spring | The Tyee
The city is changing how it funds Kingsway Community Station. That’s ‘dangerous,’ its program director says.
thetyee.ca
November 21, 2025 at 3:33 PM
The City of Vancouver is changing its funding model for the city’s last drop-in space for vulnerable sex workers, leading to concerns it may have to close.
Kingsway Community Station supports some of the most marginalized people in our city. by @michellegamage.bsky.social thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Kingsway Community Station supports some of the most marginalized people in our city. by @michellegamage.bsky.social thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Reposted by Mel Woods
Really alarmed to see any government use a notwithstanding clause. That should be for extraordinary circumstances, not for punishing trans kids.
Incredible explainer from @melwoods.me
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Incredible explainer from @melwoods.me
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights | The Tyee
Alberta’s premier is overriding Charter protections. Here’s a fact check on her claims.
thetyee.ca
November 21, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Really alarmed to see any government use a notwithstanding clause. That should be for extraordinary circumstances, not for punishing trans kids.
Incredible explainer from @melwoods.me
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Incredible explainer from @melwoods.me
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
"Parents need to be the ones who make major decisions in their children's exposure to serving cunt."
Danielle Smith invokes notwithstanding clause to ban Canada’s Drag Race
Danielle Smith invokes notwithstanding clause to ban Canada’s Drag Race
EDMONTON - Following the invocation of the Notwithstanding Clause to shield the Alberta government from legal challenges arising from bills targeting the province’s 2SLGTBQIA+ community, Premier Danie...
www.thebeaverton.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:23 AM
"Parents need to be the ones who make major decisions in their children's exposure to serving cunt."
At the airport en route to Calgary, and I'm not actually going to yell at Danielle Smith about the Notwithstanding Clause, but instead I'm going for Magic: The Gathering regionals
Anyways, if you haven't yet you can still READ me yelling about it all here:
xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
Anyways, if you haven't yet you can still READ me yelling about it all here:
xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
The lies Danielle Smith is telling to overturn trans kids’ rights | Xtra Magazine
The Alberta government is invoking the Notwithstanding Clause to protect its three anti-trans laws from being challenged in the courts
xtramagazine.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:18 AM
At the airport en route to Calgary, and I'm not actually going to yell at Danielle Smith about the Notwithstanding Clause, but instead I'm going for Magic: The Gathering regionals
Anyways, if you haven't yet you can still READ me yelling about it all here:
xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
Anyways, if you haven't yet you can still READ me yelling about it all here:
xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
Reposted by Mel Woods
I wrote about the exhaustion and dissonance of writing about TDOR for the past 15 years
I’m sick of writing about dead trans people | Xtra Magazine
For 15 years, I hoped my words would change something. Now I’m grieving the world that could’ve been
xtramagazine.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I wrote about the exhaustion and dissonance of writing about TDOR for the past 15 years
Reposted by Mel Woods
Mel remains exceptional at explaining these complicated issues in ways that can inform a very general audience.
Thanks to @thetyee.ca for republishing my op-ed about Danielle Smith and the Notwithstanding Clause. ✨
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
@melwoods.me: We must not overcomplicate what’s going on here.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
November 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Mel remains exceptional at explaining these complicated issues in ways that can inform a very general audience.
Reposted by Mel Woods
"We must not overcomplicate what’s going on here."
Thank you @melwoods.me for this important @xtramagazine.com essay about how the Alberta provincial government is overturning trans rights.
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Thank you @melwoods.me for this important @xtramagazine.com essay about how the Alberta provincial government is overturning trans rights.
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights | The Tyee
Alberta’s premier is overriding Charter protections. Here’s a fact check on her claims.
thetyee.ca
November 20, 2025 at 5:59 PM
"We must not overcomplicate what’s going on here."
Thank you @melwoods.me for this important @xtramagazine.com essay about how the Alberta provincial government is overturning trans rights.
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Thank you @melwoods.me for this important @xtramagazine.com essay about how the Alberta provincial government is overturning trans rights.
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I particularly want to stress that the violence we talk about trans people experiencing isn't just murder or domestic abuse or assault.
There is also legislative violence—far too much of it. And we lose lives to that every year too.
There is also legislative violence—far too much of it. And we lose lives to that every year too.
The Alberta government putting out a statement for Trans Day of Remembrance two days after using the Notwithstanding Clause to override trans kids rights feels like parody at this point
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
November 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I particularly want to stress that the violence we talk about trans people experiencing isn't just murder or domestic abuse or assault.
There is also legislative violence—far too much of it. And we lose lives to that every year too.
There is also legislative violence—far too much of it. And we lose lives to that every year too.
A sobering reflection Kai Cheng Thom today for #TransDayofRemembrance
"We grieve. And we keep going. And maybe 15 years from now, or 50, or 500, we will live in a different world."
xtramagazine.com/power/activi...
"We grieve. And we keep going. And maybe 15 years from now, or 50, or 500, we will live in a different world."
xtramagazine.com/power/activi...
I’m sick of writing about dead trans people | Xtra Magazine
For 15 years, I hoped my words would change something. Now I’m grieving the world that could’ve been
xtramagazine.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A sobering reflection Kai Cheng Thom today for #TransDayofRemembrance
"We grieve. And we keep going. And maybe 15 years from now, or 50, or 500, we will live in a different world."
xtramagazine.com/power/activi...
"We grieve. And we keep going. And maybe 15 years from now, or 50, or 500, we will live in a different world."
xtramagazine.com/power/activi...
Reposted by Mel Woods
The Alberta government putting out a statement for Trans Day of Remembrance two days after using the Notwithstanding Clause to override trans kids rights feels like parody at this point
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
November 20, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The Alberta government putting out a statement for Trans Day of Remembrance two days after using the Notwithstanding Clause to override trans kids rights feels like parody at this point
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
Reposted by Mel Woods
@melwoods.me: We must not overcomplicate what’s going on here.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights | The Tyee
Alberta’s premier is overriding Charter protections. Here’s a fact check on her claims.
thetyee.ca
November 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
@melwoods.me: We must not overcomplicate what’s going on here.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
Ok, now that the possibility of getting this cat is actually very real, we've expanded our working list of names in case she isn't actually a Diot Coke.
So far there's:
Goo Goo Doll
Monstro Elisasue
Diet Coke
Dirt Devil
So far there's:
Goo Goo Doll
Monstro Elisasue
Diet Coke
Dirt Devil
We are meeting Diot Coke later this week 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
November 20, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Ok, now that the possibility of getting this cat is actually very real, we've expanded our working list of names in case she isn't actually a Diot Coke.
So far there's:
Goo Goo Doll
Monstro Elisasue
Diet Coke
Dirt Devil
So far there's:
Goo Goo Doll
Monstro Elisasue
Diet Coke
Dirt Devil
The Alberta government putting out a statement for Trans Day of Remembrance two days after using the Notwithstanding Clause to override trans kids rights feels like parody at this point
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
November 20, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The Alberta government putting out a statement for Trans Day of Remembrance two days after using the Notwithstanding Clause to override trans kids rights feels like parody at this point
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
"Our government remains a dedicated partner of transgender Albertans.”
Reposted by Mel Woods
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights
A great piece from @melwoods.me
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
A great piece from @melwoods.me
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights | The Tyee
Alberta’s premier is overriding Charter protections. Here’s a fact check on her claims.
thetyee.ca
November 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights
A great piece from @melwoods.me
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
A great piece from @melwoods.me
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Reposted by Mel Woods
‘This is the Alberta government saying that the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.’ By @melwoods.me thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights | The Tyee
Alberta’s premier is overriding Charter protections. Here’s a fact check on her claims.
thetyee.ca
November 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
‘This is the Alberta government saying that the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.’ By @melwoods.me thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Thanks to @thetyee.ca for republishing my op-ed about Danielle Smith and the Notwithstanding Clause. ✨
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
@melwoods.me: We must not overcomplicate what’s going on here.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights | The Tyee
Alberta’s premier is overriding Charter protections. Here’s a fact check on her claims.
thetyee.ca
November 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Thanks to @thetyee.ca for republishing my op-ed about Danielle Smith and the Notwithstanding Clause. ✨
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
Always glad to see outlets beyond LGBTQ2S+ publications platforming and highlighting trans voices on issues like this
Reposted by Mel Woods
"Whether it’s lies about the safety of puberty blockers or the competitive impact of allowing trans women to compete in women’s sports, the stances and statements Smith is repeatedly trotting out.... are at their best misleading and at their worst outright lies."
xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
The lies Danielle Smith is telling to overturn trans kids’ rights | Xtra Magazine
The Alberta government is invoking the Notwithstanding Clause to protect its three anti-trans laws from being challenged in the courts
xtramagazine.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:15 AM
"Whether it’s lies about the safety of puberty blockers or the competitive impact of allowing trans women to compete in women’s sports, the stances and statements Smith is repeatedly trotting out.... are at their best misleading and at their worst outright lies."
xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
Reposted by Mel Woods
CCLA strongly condemns the Alberta government’s introduction of legislation invoking the notwithstanding clause to shield three laws that directly threaten the rights of trans and gender-diverse people in the province.
Read more here.
ccla.org/press-releas...
Read more here.
ccla.org/press-releas...
CCLA Condemns Alberta’s Use of the Notwithstanding Clause to Undermine Rights of Trans and Gender Diverse Youth - CCLA
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) strongly condemns the Alberta government’s introduction of legislation invoking the notwithstanding clause to shield three laws that directly threaten t...
ccla.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM
CCLA strongly condemns the Alberta government’s introduction of legislation invoking the notwithstanding clause to shield three laws that directly threaten the rights of trans and gender-diverse people in the province.
Read more here.
ccla.org/press-releas...
Read more here.
ccla.org/press-releas...