Tara-Michelle Ziniuk
@tmziniuk.bsky.social
Editor, writer, media-maker, parent. Past lives in activism and community radio. Likes: menus, comics, lists, farmers markets, good poetry, bad TV. By day: managing editor @ Xtra Magazine
This Labour Day, revisit our series on the state of work for queer and trans people in Canada. xtramagazine.com/series/on-th...
On the Clock | Xtra Magazine
On the Clock features stories written by the 2025-26 Ken Popert Media Fellows about the state of work for queer and trans people in Canada.
xtramagazine.com
NEW: wrote about why it’s so problematic that many of the new women’s basketball documentaries are erasing Black women’s names, greatness, labor, & contributions from the history of the sport.
the basketball documentaries erasing black women from the sport
this trend is a real problem
thefrankiedlc.news
The thing about this whole September 25 as Dolly Day because "9-2-5" is yes, Dolly was for the workers. But she did not invent the work day! Will I still do something for it? Probably.
I’m in @sfchronicle.com writing about how the last six weeks we’ve been talking about transgender women’s eligibility to play in the WNBA and women’s sports at large…without any input from trans women at all (gift link):
Trans athletes never took over women’s sports. So why is the WNBA in an uproar?
OPINION: The staged freakout over trans women athletes has been sustained by incurious journalists and bad actors. There’s a debate to be had, but start with inviting actual trans people to it.
sfchronicle.com
Lionel Richie is… in the ICU… for “possible slight dehydration”?? Does anyone have a good source? Ideally with good news
Sorry, I can’t go out tonight, I need to find out what a stranger in a town I’ve never heard of is eating at a buffet
In all the talk of trans women & basketball, I wanted to share this profile I wrote of the Basketdolls, an all-transfemme pickup basketball league in Brooklyn. I would love to see the Liberty shout them out or donate to them in some way. This story was selected for The Year’s Best Sportswriting 2025
Let’s Hear It for the Dolls: A Day Shooting Hoops With Brooklyn’s Trans Basketball League
“You can play hard and have fun without the fear that you’re going to have to deal with pushback from someone.”
self.com
Having a baby isn’t all dressing them up in sparkles and rainbows and posing them with a cardboard cutout of Dolly Parton, but SOMETIMES IT IS.
“The gay community accepted me before other people did. I always wanted to be understood and I always wanted to be accepted for being me, so I completely understand when gay people talk about just wanting to be accepted for who they are” xtramagazine.com/culture/doll...
Gaudy goddess: Self-described backwoods Barbie, Dolly Parton, chats about boobs, Broadway and battling hate | Xtra Magazine
Revisiting Matt Thomas’s interview with the legend, originally published in fab Magazine in 2009
xtramagazine.com
Teenagers have come and gone and the apartment smells like vanilla body spray
My partner has called me out on saying "Vazaleen" (as in, Will Munro's legendary parties) and being unable to say the brand name of the popular petroleum product. This is me on the record saying I am entirely fine with that.
For queer and trans people in Canada today, even if you are not familiar with barbara findlay the person, her work has touched every aspect of our lives. To mark her passing, we've republished a video interview with the trailblazing lawyer, recorded in 2016. xtramagazine.com/video/barbar...
Remembering barbara findlay | Xtra Magazine
The trailblazing lawyer and activist died on Aug. 22. Her connection to Xtra runs deep
xtramagazine.com
I have lived long enough to see someone call Transamerica progressive for its time. I would like to book a return ticket from the internet.
Yesterday I shooed my teen away because I was working. And she was like "You said you were working, you're looking at WNBA stuff." And I *was* in fact working! New @thefrankiedlc.news over @xtramagazine.com. xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
Anti-trans hate came to the WNBA. Fans are fighting back | Xtra Magazine
From organizing a “Trans Joy Rally” to handing out supportive signs at games, fans aren't letting anti-trans discourse define the league
xtramagazine.com
But actually, what if I wrote the women's magazine version of the story of my newfound interest in the WNBA?
Accidentally started writing about my Summer of Women's Basketball today and may just continue? Both my teenager and I have gotten a fair bit of criticism for... checks notes... having a new interest??
I have unsubscribed from Poshmark, but Poshmark has not unsubscribed from me
I grew up in a family that showed love through bowls of fruit and bank transfers. I didn’t realize how emotionally stunted that made me, writes @evawritesthings.bsky.social. xtramagazine.com/love-sex/lea...
My queer friends taught me to say ‘I love you.’ Now I say it as often as I can | Xtra Magazine
My family showed love through action, but my friends helped me learn to say it out loud
xtramagazine.com
Sure, your kid going to university is emotional, but have you ever watched your teenager sort through their childhood craft supplies?
The thing breaking my brain most about following (1) sport is that “winningest” is a word. My editor brain cannot
Disturbed to realize one of the Toronto Tempo mascots has my ex's face. I will not be taking questions at this time.
In other news the Dark Horse opened at College /Dovercourt. So strange: 25+ years ago there were protests in Toronto to save (Dooney’s etc) indie cafes for Starbucks invasion now indie cafes replace vacated Starbucks. It’s a trip.
Abercrombie sells WNBA shirts in the men's section only
My train's updated arrival time is close to 1am. I go to bed long before that. I work at 9am. I am stressed! (I am also far enough away that there could totally be more delays, AND I don't live near the train station.)
Xtra contributing editor @tobinng.bsky.social wrote about the unbearable whiteness of this summer’s surprise Sapphic hit: xtramagazine.com/culture/ster...
Even in the idyllic queer world of ‘Sterling Point,’ whiteness is front and centre | Xtra Magazine
The Muskoka-set series glosses over the racism of Canada’s cottage country
xtramagazine.com
