Letter From Your Editors

From our hearts to yours, autumnly. 🍁

Top: Vanessa + Hoagie // Ro + cemetery // Heather + WNBA playoffs // Nicole + a stone // Casey + pumpkin ice cream
Bottom: Meg + hot coffee // Kayla + decorative gourd // Carmen + denim jacket // Laneia + open door // Drew + family visit
We also had a late addition from the one and only Sarah Sarwar on the Oregon coast!

The breeze has cooled and this morning when I did a quick grocery run, I got to wear sweats and sneakers and grab a warm apple cider on my way out the doors and my friends — it was bliss. I never understood why Cancers are destined for summer, with cozy sweaters and warm blankets and baking projects galore, Fall has always been My Season.^TM

To be honest, I haven’t spent as much time outside taking in this fall as I’d like. As you heard in your emails this week, we are busy prepping for our Fall Fundraiser. When we last reached out to you, we said that the funds we raised would be enough to hold us through the end of July. But now it’s the end of September! I’m so proud of that fact. We’ve been able to plan ahead, we had an A+ membership drive for Pride that generated over $25k and so many A+ members (hi! welcome! thank you!), and with ad sales slowly coming back (class say: Thank You Showtime!), we’ve been able to get this train even further down the track than we’ve expected. A big part of the reason we’ve been able to make these extra few months is because of you, reading this Insider right now! The $138k we will be fundraising this month will hold us down through the end of January, and help us sure up Autostraddle’s longterm, sustainable future. And that is vital.

We are hiring two new senior editors, as you know, and I want to set those humans up for the best possible success. Together we can give Autostraddle the security of four months to train these people and get them settled into our community without survival-mentality and insecurity handing over them. Right now Autostraddle is operating with our smallest editorial staff since 2014, and yet we had our highest traffic of the year in August (I haven’t seen the numbers yet, but I suspect September might even beat that record!) and a team of part-time Subject Editors turning out projects that make me weep with possibility. If that’s what we can do working together while being short-staffed, can you imagine what we can do with a full team? When we have time to dream and create and plan without worrying that sky is falling? We really are right on the cusp of our next chapter, I can taste it, and I can’t wait.

It’s getting a little late, so I’ll wrap us up! I hope you have a hot chocolate or an oat milk latte and some warm chocolate chip cookies. Here’s what A+ members go to enjoy special this month!

• Into the A+ Advice Box #43: How Do You Reconnect With a Friend After Over a Year?
• S L I C K: The Gambling Countess by June Amelia Rose
• Into the A+ Advice Box #44: WORK DRAMA
• S L I C K: The Maid Who Was Elegant by June Amelia Rose

Love,

Carmen / Heather / Laneia / Sarah / Nicole / Riese

Top 10 Most Popular Posts From August 2021

These posts were hella popular last month.

1. Sarah Michelle Gellar Gays Up “Masters of the Universe: Revelation,” He-Man Fanboys Drown in Own Tears, by Heather
2. Soccer Stars Kristie Mewis and Sam Kerr Are Lesbianing Together — Thank You, Stacey!, by Stef
3. The L Word Generation Q Episode 201 Recap: Late To The Party Foul, by Riese
4. Quiz: Which L Word Character Would You Let Destroy You?, by Kayla
5. The L Word Generation Q Episode 204 Recap: But This Lake House Has No Lake, by Riese
6. The L Word Generation Q Episode 203 Recap: Luck Be a Ladykiller, by Riese
7. Quiz: Which ’90s Lesbian Love Song Is Your Karaoke Anthem?, by Ro
8. Put On Your Bra-ssicas: You Can Still Plant Vegetables Now for the Fall! Here’s 14 to Try!, by Nicole
9. August 2021: Here’s What’s New, Gay and Streaming on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Showtime and Amazon Prime Video, by Riese
10. Pop Culture Fix: Wow, That Sue Bird / Megan Rapinoe Gold Medal Kiss Made Straight People Go Berserk, by Heather

Eight Important Excerpts From Editorial Conversations

Laneia: you know you think you’ve seen it all and then someone searches “what is the expiration date on amish made apple pie filling”

Stef: as an unlikeable person i understand the impulse [to be a catfish on The Circle]
Riese: yeah true actually
as a fellow unlikeable person i would probably choose to like, be heather
Stef: is heather a michelle
Riese: i wonder if heather would let me be her in the circle
Stef: i would be blue heather
we can both play heather on the circle
Riese: i think we would have equal chances of success
Stef: i’m gonna win because they’re gonna show a picture of her cats
Natalie: If you were the real Heather, I’d hope that you would remember that you had a private conversation with the other three first people to join the circle
Unlike Mary
Sorry, still salty about that

Sarah: heads up there’s an internet outage in my area… twiddles thumbs

Nicole: you’ve had those before haven’t you?
Riese: tag yourself I’m Msg&DataRatesMayAPply
Nicole: omg
Laneia: i’m the amount of time between the first message and the second
Sarah: i’m the feeling of knowing that i “have access to a million free hot spots” but want a hot spot in my apartment
Nicole: i’m the ‘estimated resolution time’ or mystery itself

Shelli Nicole: also quick question do we have like a sign on for pinklabel.tv I am trying to watch “strap on motel” for the series and it’s only available there.
Vanessa: excuse me
i also feel like i need to watch “strap on motel”
for uh
work
👀

Carmen: And speaking of witchy things, Nicole yesterday when I lamented we didn’t have any real traffic drivers for the middle of the week, you wished on our behalf for a celebrity come out
And right this very second there are 82 (!!!) concurrent people reading this Elvira piece at once, sitting very gothily at the top of the leader board
Laneia: oh my god
Nicole: oh wow
And a spooky celebrity too. You’re right.
Carmen: Absolutely your doing.

Shelli Nicole: I searched “dildo” on my fav site for photos unsplash thinking nothing would come up but I was surprised when stuff did! some actual pictures. just dropping this as an FYI in case people are looking for photos one day!
Laneia: oh i love the woman reaching into her dildo basket
Nicole: i personally love the vibrator making itself an espresso
Shelli Nicole: ME TOO
self care
They do work hard

Vanessa: this is entirely unrelated to work and is selfishly me just sourcing the largest group chat i have but —
can someone either convince me that i NEED this or convince me that i absolutely do NOT NEED this: Cat Fight Costume – Black
Dani Janae: OH MY GOD
Christina: you need it
Vanessa: okay thank you so much
Dani Janae: YOU NEED IT
Vanessa: i was rly hoping the pendulum was gonna swing that way
Dani Janae: and what I mean by that is I need to see you wearing this because you’d look amazing in it
Christina: yes to be clear that is me also
Vanessa: okay a HUGE compliment from BOTH OF YOU
especially after listening to last week’s episode of is Wait Is This a Date tbh
Shelli Nicole: Hello hi yes please purchase
Get 2 so when you wear this one out you’ll always have a backup
Vanessa: SHELLI
when are you publishing Shelli Explains It All: Your Guide To The Life You Deserve
because i feel like every time you tell me anything i am like… wow ok shelli truly is living her best life 24/7
Meg: just also here to yell that YOU NEED IT VANESSA
Shelli Nicole: Random House 2024
Big Taurus energy ALWAYS INDULGE!!!
Vanessa: thank you ALL very much for your guidance on this extremely pressing issue
Ro: I’ll throw my impulsive Aries energy into the mix and say – YES VANESSA YOU NEED IT!
Vanessa: feeling EXTREMELY held and supported by all my colleagues today
ok huge news for those following along — my two new velvet jumpsuits from fashion nova arrived TODAY (coincidence?! i think not) and they are indeed going to solve all my problems just like i hoped when i ordered them
so i think we can conclude that buying the slutty jumpsuit from fashion nova is always the right call, and i thank everyone here for your guidance and enthusiasm in my time of need
Shelli Nicole: VELVET JUMPSUIT?! Please drop the link in my DM’s
Christina: PLEASE SHARE THE LINK WIDELY
Vanessa: PLEASE HOLD
Chocolate Dream Velvet Jumpsuit – Black
Chocolate Dream Velvet Jumpsuit – Mauve
Shelli Nicole: Ok but this blush one!!!!!! I am about to ruin/make someones night when it gets to my mailbox
Abeni: my package from Chewy containing cat toys arrived today, so I’m kinda on the same wavelength as you rn Vanessa

What We’ve Been Reading

Ro: Stones and Bones of New England: A Guide To Unusual, Historic, and Otherwise Notable Cemeteries by Lisa Rogak

Natalie: Misfits: A Personal Manifesto by Michaela Coel

Carmen: Got Anything Stronger? by Gabrielle Union

Riese: The Spectators by Jennifer duBois

Valerie Anne: You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson

Meg: The Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de la Foret

Sally: Love is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann

Casey: This Is My Real Name: A Stripper’s Memoir by Cid V Brunet

Kayla: Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body by Megan Milks and Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

Heather: Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor

Drew: Tomboy Survival Guide by Ivan Coyote

Vanessa: Complex PTSD: From Surviving To Thriving by Paul Walker

Nicole: The Shining by Stephen King and Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden

Big Day for the Lovers of Darkness

Laneia: WAIT

Cassandra Peterson — best known to the world as #Elvira, Mistress of the Dark — has revealed her 19-year relationship with another woman in her new memoir. @TheRealElvira https://t.co/Qcok0ZkFU7

— The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) September 21, 2021

Laneia: WHERE IS THIS ALREADY BEING YELLED ABOUT SO I CAN GO TO THAT CHANNEL AND JOIN THE YELLING PLS
Carmen: OH WAIT WHAT
Laneia: THE MEETCUTE
THE FANFIC LEVEL CONFLICT
I AM DYING
Carmen: I also didn’t know Elvira was a red head now??????
Or maybe was always?? I’ve only ever known the stage hair/make up
omg this is so cute
Dani Janae: OMG
Laneia: i think elvira was the first woman i felt guilty looking at and didn’t know why
this is like, i am MOVED
Carmen: This is H O T

The two lived together and took care of one another through a really challenging time and, in the process, something began to shift. One night, after they were out at a movie, Peterson felt a sudden desire to kiss Wierson. “I think I was even more surprised. What the hell was I doing? I’d never been interested in women as anything other than friends. I felt so confused. This just wasn’t me! I was stunned that I’d been friends with her for so many years and never noticed our chemistry,” she writes. “I soon discovered that we connected sexually in a way I’d never experienced.”

Oh sorry, Laneia was having feelings!
Laneia: NO IT IS HOT !
litrally fanfic
Carmen: Absolutely truly! Would Dani Janae or Stef want to write about Elvira’s coming out in the next 1-2 hours? I wanted to offer it up (or to anyone on #TeamGoth and Lovers of Darkness not listed above! I believe that would include Ro or Meg and whomever else is in that spooky channel yall have and/or is harboring Elvira feelings) before I put it in today’s Also.Also.Also. Let me know within the next 30 minutes and it is yours!
Dani Janae: I’m on my way home and could do it
Ro: Wait whaaaaaat!!!!
Laneia: Lovers of Darkness
Carmen: Big Day for the Lovers of Darkness
Nicole: Whaaat. That is all🖤🦇
Meg: i am deceased, this is incredible
Carmen: Ohhhh team spooky is out in a big way, this was like a batsignal, I love it.
Ro: I am LOSING MY SPOOKY SHIT
Stef: wow this is a big day
i’m losing it over her falling for this wierson person while splitting from someone named pierson????
Laneia: dani i can’t wait to read this
Meg: SAME
Stef: thanks elvira for paving the way for queer goths who are only attracted to people whose names rhyme
Vanessa: i’m not even on team Lovers of Darkness and this has revived me in a way i cannot describe
watching team goth be so excited is part of the magic imho
Kayla Kumari: Wait she made her partner her assistant so they could be together without people knowing they were together together???? Am I reading that correctly because that is LITERALLY THE PLOT OF ICONIC LESBIAN PULP NOVEL BEEBO BRINKER
Shelli Nicole: I LOVE THIS
Stef: i hope Elvira is as excited about my queerness as I am about hers

In Our Catra Voice 🗣 Hey Adora

Hey guys, it’s Sarah, here with the latest important statistical data about our community. This month we’re talking fictional animation drawings that also happen to be homos. That’s right, it’s Which Gay Cartoon Character Are You? What an absolute dream that we are amongst so many Adora’s and Garnet’s. It makes sense. You are GEMSTONES and I ADORE you. Okay, here’s the chart…

🕯 HULU SEND ME A CANDLE WHEN 🕯

Laneia: “wait a bisexual second,” heather
Heather: lol i only slept like 45 minutes last night, i am operating on pure lesbian adrenaline
Carmen: oh wow Riese didn’t sleep either
something’s up
Laneia: moon’s in aquarius, not sure that matters but it’s worth noting
Riese: i am operating on 150 mg of wellbutrin
Laneia: i hope you both get a fruit today
Riese: i literally feel like i am hallucinating
Laneia: like a smoothie or a juice would do you wonders and idek care that i sound like your 40 yr old mom right now
Riese: i went outside and was like… where am i
me and heather having restless souls on the same night means something for sure
besides that i got my period 30 seconds ago
Laneia: I GOT MY PERIOD 30 SECONDS AGO
Riese: LANEIA
omg
WHAT IS IN THE AIR
Heather: stacy got her period 30 seconds ago!
Riese: WHAT
Laneia: OMG STACY
Riese: i hope stacy gets a fruit also
Laneia: every period i get now i’m like “are you the last one? would you tell me if you were?????”
Heather: dang wow!
Nicole: sorry to be late to the convo. was looking for some ibuprofen because i also couldn’t sleep, also got my period.
Riese: NICOLE
Laneia: NICOLE
Nicole: i have some questions for the moon
Carmen:  L M A O
Laneia: jesus christ should the five of us like… try to conjure something tonight??
Nicole: 💰<–
lol
Laneia: i have black candles and white ones
Riese: i have 45 pink tealights
and then like 10 fancy candles i’m afraid to burn
that’s probably another topic for another day
Laneia: you really should burn those, you deserve nice things WE DESERVE FANCY CANDLES
Riese: they are mostly gifts!
the fanciest one was from NBC
and i was like, this is a statement piece
Carmen: I got a fancy candle from Netflix once and I will say it smells so good
Riese: i haven’t been to target for a few weeks which’s why i don’t have more non-fancy candles at the ready, just the shells of them
Nicole: please document each thoroughly for a special edition of Our Hobbies, Our Shelves: These Candles Are Too Fancy to Burn
Laneia: ok sorry i have to know the scent of the nbc candle
Riese: oh yeah i got a nice one from hbo also
Laneia: what in the hell
Carmen: The netflix candle is called “flight” and supposedly smells like “rose quartz, love & trust”
Laneia: one time airtable sent me a tote bag with AT-branded socks in it
so
Riese: 

that’s the NBC candle
Laneia: o shit
yeah you only burn that like once a year, or if someone rich comes over
Riese: def
Nicole: we all know what I get sent in the mail 🌱
Laneia: ! ! !
Nicole: that is a beautiful candle
Carmen: sorry the (weed emoji) has sent me over
Heather: Oh! i’m burning a candle from cartoon network right now!
Nicole: what does THAT smell like?
Laneia: WHAT
Heather: it’s called “another saturday morning” and it’s lemon, vanilla, and sandalwood
Laneia: omfg well that sounds perfect
Heather: i got one from hbo one time during gentleman jack that was called “fresh air birch” and it was so good
i think drew gets weed from hbo
Carmen: drew definitely got weed once!
My Netflix candle came with a bottle of wine, popcorn, and chocolate. Like a really fancy date night.
Laneia: i am on the wrong side of things
HULU SEND ME A CANDLE WHEN

XOXO

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