Shawn Syms

Shawn Syms (born 1970) is a Toronto, Ontario-based writer and activist on LGBT issues and other aspects of progressive politics.

From 1988 until 1992, he was one of the editors and publishers of "Rites", an Canadian monthly magazine of queer history, politics and culture. During that time, Syms was also active in the political organization AIDS Action NOW!, which fought for access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.

In 1997 and 1998, he was publisher, for Pink Triangle Press, of" Canadian Male", a short-lived gay men's sexual magazine characterized by very diverse contents and high production values. Syms co-wrote the sexual-advice column "Carnal Queeries" in Toronto's "Xtra!" for several years. Syms was a copy editor at "Fuse Magazine" for over a decade and served on its board of directors for 13 years in the 1990s and early 2000s. He is currently a blogger on political affairs for "This Magazine".

His writing has also appeared in "The Globe and Mail", "Eye Weekly", "Spacing", "Fab", "Our Times", "Lexicon", and several other publications.