This year, the Autostraddle team decided to focus our Black History Month coverage on the Black elders who are still here and still doing the work. We welcome our readers to celebrate these members of the Black LGBTQ+ community with us.

Harlan Howard said “All you need to write a country song is three chords and the truth” — I’m pretty sure queer folks have a lot of truth to tell.

It wasn’t the first time or the last time I declared it Time to Quit, a statement I always throw around a bit too carelessly.

I haven’t written anything really real in years; I barely remember how.

Say hello to the 14 (yes, you heard that right!) new writers who are helping to make Autostraddle brighter and sharper.

You may have noticed we’re fundraising again! We’re here to tell you about what we’ve done with your support since our last fundraiser, and what we’re planning to accomplish if we continue to survive thanks to your support.

I asked her if I could have a human-sized cat cone, the one that makes it looks like your head is poking through a piece of toast. Sadly, I cannot — but I can get the brace I need in Tennessee Lady Vols orange, so at least I can support my favorite team while also making sure the top half of my body is the color of a construction cone so I don’t get hit by any cars.

The Autostraddle store is full of some of the best gay merch you’ll ever lay your little gay eyes on.

111. I wrote hundreds of love letters to Janet Jackson. I never sent them, but was convinced that we would end up married some day.

Autostraddle is one of very few queer media outlets or publications still around in 2021 (though we’re always thrilled to see new ones join us!). And considering, you know, everything, we very well might not be around someday. But we’re hoping that with the support of our community, we’ll be able to say: NOT TODAY, SATAN! We’re going to stick this one out, with a little help. Okay? Okay.

This is more than a workplace where they’ll notify HR and we’ll all be polite about my pronouns.

Why do we talk about care as a scarcity model? How do you live with ~the void~? How do we adjust to changing language for identity and in movements? Is America going to end in 2024? All this and more!

Not to be one of those divorced people who makes everything about their divorce!, but getting divorced will really teach you that nothing about making something “real” or deciding you’re all in makes it any more secure.

Heather Hogan noticed that I had taken up permanent residence in the comments of “Boobs on Your Tube” every Friday, basically writing recaps of my own (I felt lost, Autostraddle was my port in the storm). Heather asked if I had ever considered writing about television as a career. She said, “We can pay you. Not as much as we’d like to, but we’ll find the money. Is that something you’d be into?”

I wrote back, “That is something that I would VERY MUCH be into! In fact, I hope it’s not too unprofessional to say that I would love it with all of my heart.”

We live in a time when you can see yourself reflected in all kinds of media, from all kinds of corporations, who never liked to talk about us before. But when you click on those things, you are giving people money who are not part of our community.

Carmen suggested once that we become the “Gay Strategist” and I love this idea for us.

“I am SO THANKFUL to be vaccinated and alive and gay as fuck.”

You ALL came together to get us to $100,000 and we believe you can get us to $50,000 more. 79% of the donations that made $100,000 possible were $50 or less! We mean it when we say that this is an effort of everyone coming together and donating what they can to make a huge difference. Together, you and we are powerful. We can make change happen. Let’s never forget that.

Nature is healing.

Instead of preparing for doom, I can’t help myself from planning for the utmost beauty and enjoyment, for pleasure and laughter, for sharing stories and connections, regardless of whatever else is happening. Here are the near-future plans I’m inviting you to invest in with me on Autostraddle, during this final stretch of our fundraiser!