Every time we have a fundraising drive, we spend a great deal of time (too much time?) coming up with the perks! It’s an exercise in our creativity and in getting weird in ways we hope you’ll appreciate. Why do we send perks? Because they’re fun and they give our donors a surprise treat in the mail, usually a couple months after the fundraiser that they get to enjoy along with the fact that we are still here, still making queer media thanks to their support.
THIS fundraiser, we have stickers, a koozie, a carabiner, chapstick, two prints from two incredible queer artists, a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle and a candle! Not to mention, everyone who donates automatically receives links to download a coloring book page and two queer word searches. Instant gratification!
Can’t wait? Don’t even want to read the post? Go to the fundraiser!
The Stickers
We did not bring back the straddle this underwear because having to sort through different sizes when packing fundraiser perks makes me cry, but STICKERS MAKE ME HAPPY. Celebrate one of the weirdest website names with this sticker representing a pair of red boxer briefs! We’re also introducing the But I’m a Queerleader sticker in honor of Kayla’s masterwork and all the weird, nerdy, thoroughly researched queer cultural criticism you all support.
Gay Koozie
Keep your beverages cool and your hand from getting all sweaty. Bring this koozie camping, to the beach, to the pool, to the cookout, to the WNBA game — wherever you damn please.
Yeah, We Did This
I would be lying if I did not admit that I thought it was hilarious that one of our fundraising drive perk levels consists of a carabiner and chapstick. HEY GAY WE SEE YOU. Flavors of chapstick are beeswax, tropical and minty. The carabiner is the kind you can use for keys but not like, to climb, because climbing carabiners are extremely pricey! Like wow! I also had no idea which specific ones a person would need, so I kept it simple. We figured you’d want to use this one for everyday weear though because it shows off the fact that you are in fact a person who supports indie queer media and who is therefore an absolute gayngel in our book.
TWO PRINTS BY QUEER ARTISTS! (I Freaked Out When They Both Said Yes Okay?)
This first one is by @ggggrimes! The above image is intentionally of a non-print quality because one has to be careful with posting artwork online, but trust me when I say that the DETAILS in this one are rich, gorgeous, lush. Or you know what? Here’s a look:
![a close up of ggggrimes' print showing the femme character's glittery eyeshadow, shiny hair and the detailed line work](https://www.autostraddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-06-at-7.23.35-PM.png?w=398&resize=398%2C399)
THE GLITTERY EYESHADOW!
And then we have “It’s a Greaty Day to Be Gay” by @liberaljane which gives me ultra queer Jem and the Holograms vibes, which makes me feel like I’m at a show surrounding by gays enveloped in the tones of queer musicians (I’m engaged to a lesbian musician so this is something near and dear to my heart). Every day is a great day to be gay when we’re with you. SIMILARLY this image is intentionally lower-resolution, but the print you receive sure will be crisp and deliciously rich in detail!
And We Are Putting This On a Puzzle!
500 pieces, puzzle queers!
AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, The Lavender Menace Candle
These are being hand-poured by local candlemakers near me! I made sure to go work with PGH Candle in person because it was very important to me that should you support us, you receive candles that smell good and are of a high quality.
We’ve combined the thoroughly chilled out scent of lavender with the complex aroma of menace* to create this limited edition LAVENDER MENACE candle! Made with 100% soy wax, natural essential oils, and 14 years of the gayest reader-funded online publication the world has ever known. Supporting independent queer media has literally never smelled so good.*Menace technically has no scent, but for our purposes you can expect it to smell herbaceous and woody, with notes of cypress, cedar, and amber.
When Do Perks Ship?
We are going to start packing them in April and start shipping through April and May! Sorry, I can’t BOTH run the fundraisr and pack packages at the same time, so think of these as a gift to your future self! Some day in the future, you will get a koozie in the mail and also when you go to check Autostraddle, we’ll be there for you, then, too. Thank you so much for your support!
I used to have those red ‘straddle this’ underwear. Not the sticker, the actual underwear. From this very site.
I am very jealous of you!!!
I still wear my red straddle this boxers! I also have a blue pair. I got gifted the red pair from my Autostraddle pen pal (shout out Mollie!) from way back in the day when AS set up a pen pal scheme. They’re really good quality, they’re literally 10+ years old but still in gr8 condition!
holy cow the CANDLE LOOKS SO GOOD
I have never experienced such a visceral need to own an object as I did when I saw the carabiner for this fundraiser, can’t wait!
Heheheheee! I’m so glad :D
Woohoo! These are all amazing! Also Nico I know the fundraisers and sending out the perks is a tremendous project. Thank you for all of your work in this! Sending calming and restful vibes your way!
THE CANDLE
An a candle queer I am EXTREMELY excited to have my whole house smell like lavender menace 💜💜💜
I am excited for you as well!
please put the counter on the landing page again, it amps the urgency!
the tracker is there! it’s also on the home page
ALL OF THIS SHIT IS SO COOL
Is straddle this underwear on front or back because it could be top or bottom sticker depending
back :)
You may have done too good a job with the perks! I would’ve donated and opted out of perks, but I couldn’t pass up the koozies and candles 😬
And you can never have too much chapstick or too many carabiners. I hope the fundraiser is going well!
I cannot explain why I need that koozie in my life despite never drinking cold (ugh) carbonated (ugh) beverages out of cans (ugh) and hating the word “koozie.” BUT I DO, so I donated to get it. ?????? Is this that gay witchcraft I’m always hearing about???
Just the BUBBLE TROUBLE CONDITIONING
Oh, so this was the long game… well played, Autostraddle team. Well played.
I somewhat regret not levelling up to the carabiner + chapsticks, but the exchange rate would add another $20🇨🇦 at that level :(
lmao how the fuck did you make me* want a scented candle 😭 both the name and the smells sound so fucking good???
*an adhd dyke with sensory issues around smells whose absolute NEMESIS is scented candles
Is there an extra charge for shipping?
Nope, it’s included in the donation.
Of course I’m willing to pay for this site—love how you’ve stayed focused on providing everything for free so those who need it have access while finding a way to stay viable through fundraising drives and memberships 💜💜💜
very excited to transfer my carefully curated set of Tiny Tools to my new autostraddle carabiner! the ring of keys moment has levels on levels on levels (sadly i do not yet have a tiny level)