It’s officially been two weeks since we launched our fundraiser, and the response from y’all has been overwhelmingly touching. You really care. You cared so hard we that we got past $100,000 this week! You’ve made each of us tear up privately while working from home, freak out in Autostraddle Slack, or send a celebratory GIF into the middle of our digital office at least once — all that is to say, we think about you all the time, and we just can’t believe we’re so lucky to be here with you, working and making this gay place happen for you.

Not only is it looking like we’ll make it through the end of the year, but that also means we’ll be able to continue to improve this digital home for lesbians and bisexuals and queers you love. This past week, Autostraddle team writers Drew Gregory and Christina Tucker spoke to their hopes for and love of Autostraddle. Senior Writer Heather Hogan wrote about what it’s meant to be supported by you, our community in this time; we celebrated Straight People Day of all things, and soon, you’ll hear from Carmen about her plans for what’s next. This fundraiser has meant the survival of independent queer media during a time of unprecedented uncertainty, but it has also meant that we’re setting our leaders and our team up to absolutely CRUSH our goals through the end of the year. That matters, too! We want to see Autostraddle survive & thrive.

67% of gifts to this fundraiser are $25 or less and we’ve gotten a number of $5 contributions. That’s what Autostraddle is about. We’re a community where everybody pitches in what they can. Thank you for doing what you can to support, thank you for telling straights to support, for tweeting and forwarding emails and telling friends and swooning over perks. We’re so close to being able to resume “normal” programming, and I hope that you’ll help us push through to the end.

Last updated at 9 a.m. PST on 8/17/20, this chart shows that when it comes to funding Autostraddle, it really is about so many people in our community chipping in where they can. WE LOVE THIS and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Another thing brightening our days are the re-tweets we’re getting from you. My heart bursts to see our community in action, working to spread the word about this fundraiser. Lemme share that joy with you for a minute right now.

For ONE it was Rachel Kincaid’s birthday yesterday and so here is her tweet:

🥳 made it to 32! 🥳 thank u to everyone who’s already made me feel v loved and happy 2 to be born!

if you’re able, I would love nothing more than for u to donate to @autostraddle, & @thatkamala & @carmencitaloves’s vision I can’t wait to be part of 😌https://t.co/2W0gXI3UKM pic.twitter.com/YOAhPUMGPU

— Rachel (@danascullyirl) August 17, 2020

Speaking of birthdays, which takes me to natal charts, which takes me to Chani Nicholas, thank you Chani for the shout out!!

GODDESS BLESS AND PROTECT ⁦@autostraddle⁩ WE NEED ALL THE QUEER MEDIA WE CAN GET! Please send fundraising love and retweets!!! https://t.co/yTliPwJjLG

— Chani Nicholas (@chaninicholas) August 14, 2020

We loved this bit of encouragement today!

And ALL OF THESE:

This is just SOME of the support we’ve been seeing from you, our community. We’re proud to know you and to work every day for you. We’re almost there. Will you drive us home?

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

Join AF+!