What Is Autostraddle?

About

Founded in March 2009 by Riese Bernard and Alexandra Vega and still run by a team of progressively feminist queer and trans folks, Autostraddle is a digital publication and real life community for multiple generations of LGBTQIA+ humans (and their friends). The driving fire behind Autostraddle is building a space for lesbians and queer people to be our entire selves, to be known for the multi-dimensional ways we move in the world.

Autostraddle is a serious labor of love that started out as a group of friends trying to change the queer media landscape. Now with over 2.5 million views per month — it’s the internet’s most popular, and oldest independently-owned, website for lesbian culture that’s inclusive of trans and nonbinary people and all queer women. But popularity doesn’t lead to ad dollars for LGBTQIA+ or women’s media, which is why we still rely on the financial support of our readers to stay standing.

Autostraddle has seven full-time staff members (working from home across the United States), four part-timers and a whole bunch of independent contractors who contribute regularly to the site. Our business model involves multiple revenue streams:our A+ Membership Program, merchandise sales, advertising, and affiliate commissions.

In our past, we’ve been extremely proud to be the winners of the 26th Annual GLAAD Award for “Outstanding Blog,” the2012 Bloggies’ Weblog of the Year Awardand to have been a nominee for “Outstanding Blog” in the 24th, 25th and 28th Annual GLAAD Awards.


Our Mission, Agreed Upon By All Senior Staff in 2020

In all that we do, we strive for Black and Brown queerness is the center, the norm, the future of our lesbian & queer culture — white gay culture is not the default, but just one square of the fabric of our site. We actively work to manifest an explicitly intersectional feminism that centers the freedom and joy of queer, lesbian and bisexual women and all genders of trans and nonbinary people of color as well as people living with disabilities. We recognize and support the multiplicity of struggles and unequal, disproportionate impacts our community faces — our fights are not separate, we embrace them as a whole.


Autostraddle’s Company Values & Code Of Ethics

Transparency

Autostraddle staff commits to telling the truth in communications with both our creative team and our readers. Autostraddle editors will be expedient and forthright in the delivery of information that is relevant or necessary for team members to do their jobs well and stay informed about the internal functioning of the company. Autostraddle’s CFO, Executive Editor, Marketing Director, and A+ Director will provide consistent data to team members and readers on diversity and inclusion, community growth and financial performance, long-term company goals, and timely updates on the status of those goals.

Integrity

Autostraddle staff will model principled behavior and sound business ethics (including, but not limited to building goodwill and considering whether or not business decisions are beneficial to the entire Autostraddle team and community).

Autostraddle staff will recognize the impact of our words and actions and accept responsibility for their consequences, including making amends or repairing harm where necessary and adjusting behavior moving forward. Autostraddle staff will abide by our 2019 Editing Guidelines. Autostraddle Senior Members will encourage and seek out upward feedback, and address concerns directly and appropriately.

Professionalism

Autostraddle staff will communicate directly and respectfully with other team members with whom they have an issue or concern, and encourage other team members to do the same. Autostraddle staff will maintain professional relationships in the workplace and ensure all out-of-workplace interactions with our creative team and readers are above reproach.

Communication

Autostraddle Staff will transparently communicate a clear vision and set clear timelines and deadlines for all projects. Autostraddle Staff will use honest, forthright, non-manipulative language, and foster an environment where team members feel comfortable raising concerns without fear of social or professional retaliation.


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Meet Our Team.