The Comment Awards Are Riding the Lesbian Party Bus

the brown and white comment dog, peering over their laptop with the words "hey did you see that comment?" the background is light blue, and there are a variety of hand-drawn pets, coins, and dollars in honor of this week's fundraiser.

Hi there, fireflies! Did you know that we’re fundraising this week? (I bet you did.) But also also also, did you know that as I write this, you’ve helped us get to 54 whole entire percent of our fundraising goal? YOU ALL ARE PERFECT AND AMAZING AND I LOVE YOU.

I’ve been putting together the Comment Awards since 2017, and I feel like I’ve gotten to know so many of you by your comments! I wrote my favorite intro to this column ever on my drive back from A-Camp once, when the highway was long and flat and I was exhausted and grubby and felt so overcome by love for this community that I had to hit record on my phone and capture some of that love to type up later. I’ve met some of my very dearest friends because of Autostraddle. I also miss the readers I no longer see around the site, and hope they’re doing well.

I tell this story all the time, but before I ever wrote for AS, when I was just coming out and my imposter syndrome was on overdrive, I worried that I would never be accepted for who I was, that no queer community would truly SEE me. In the years since then, the Autostraddle community has proved to me over and over again that I do belong, that my voice has worth, that I can be exactly who I am. This week, as always, I want to extend that gift to all of you in turn. Please know that whether you’re an avid commenter or a perpetual lurker, I see you. When I say that I believe in this community, I mean it on a deeply personal level. I’m just SO glad we’re here together. I hope I get to keep celebrating you all in the Comment Awards for another hundred years, at least. I hope Autostraddle lasts forever.

This week, The Last of Us had its season finale, and Valerie Anne and Nic were there with this recap!

I am SO excited for this new column from Sai, The Queer Mom Chronicles. As a queer person who would like to be a parent someday, I can’t wait to see what she dives into!

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Dani Janae spoke to Lucy Dacus and Jane Schoenbrun about making their new music video for Nightshift! I can’t stop using exclamation marks today but you know what? Everything is worthy of them!

This made me laugh: I’ll Watch Anything About Women Bullying Men. Guess the byline!

Curious about the Autostraddle business model? Read this explainer from Nico.

Shelli Nicole is at SXSW and had this review of Bloody Hell, a movie that really could’ve made its nonbinary characters less disposable.

Niko had this lovely review and reflection on the new book Running, which looks at the sport through a queer, feminist lens.

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Are you playing Autostraddle March Madness?

A League Of Their Own, my very favorite tv show, is fighting for a full second season. Let’s let Amazon hear our voices!

Read this: How Astrology Helped Me Accept My Demisexuality.

And then there were your comments!

On “The Last of Us” Episode 109 Recap: Promises, Promises:

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The Baby Girl / Apocalypse Dad Award to fridax:

Oh, baby girl and apocalypse dad, you had the worst of times and you had the best of times (so did we). I loved the giraffe scene, which was already stunning in the game, and was just as great here. (Some) actions have consequences, out of love or not. But for now, Joel and Ellie have finally found a bit of peace. Thanks for the joint recap, good fun.

On Pop Culture Fix: Sarah Paulson, Tig Notaro, Abby Wambach, etc. Sing Indigo Girls on Lesbian Party Bus:

The One Set of Footprints Award to Christina Tucker and ShrugEmoji:

I want to go on the record right now and say: I am not emotionally strong enough to handle an Allison Janney coming out arc at this time.

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On Lucy Dacus, Jane Schoenbrun Talk Making Joyful Queer Music Video for “Night Shift” Starring Jasmin Savoy Brown:

The Jersey Girl Award to Amy Wesolek:

Love! And as a Jersey girl who grew up going to Caesars Pocono resorts I DEFINITELY recognized the champagne tub!

On I’ll Watch Anything About Women Bullying Men:

The Yorkshire Meanie of Renown Award to Elisabeth:

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I love this so much, both the discussion of the trope and the roundup up shows/movies! Definitely adding some of these to my watch list. Also reminds me of discussing watching Gentleman Jack with my mom and how she kept getting frustrated because “She’s just so mean!

On Sarah Paulson and Tig Notaro’s Lesbian Party Bus, Explained:

The XOXO Award to Phelan Dante:

You were spot on…!!! Amanda and I actually met Tig and her lovely wife AT the premiere for Your Place or Mine, and Tig being the fabulous woman that she is, invited us to see her show in long beach.. P.S all these ladies are reading this and loving it.. Xoxo

On We Need You To Buy Us Some Time Before Time Runs Out:

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The Lesbian Party Bus Assemble Award to alchemille:

where are the lesbian party bus riders when you need them?

And the Queer Blessings Award to Snaelle:

$Here’s the message I missed posting on the wall – This isn’t a donation, it’s a fraction of the debt I owe you all. You have been there to celebrate my queer joy, to assuage my queer fears, to answer my queer questions. You’ve connected me to people I love, you’ve held me when I wondered how to go on. And the wonder, the joy of it all is that you haven’t done this for me ~ you’ve done it for all of us in so many different ways. You’ve grown and shifted and changed. You’ve fallen and tried and tried again, and sweated and stayed up too many late nights out of love for all of us. And you love us because you ARE us – you’re trans, you’re POC, you’re disabled, you’re parents, you’re solo polyamorous, you’re monogamous, you’re non-binary, you’re free-ass motherfuckers, you’re neurodivergent, you’re so much more and so damn incredible. Thank you, thank you for being here May you THRIVE$