Autostraddle

Riese Bernard founded Autostraddle in March 2009 with Alexandra Vega, the website's former Design Director. She wanted to create a website for queer women that was unlike other sites that existed at the time. The senior team currently consists of Riese Bernard, Laneia Jones, Carmen Philips, Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, Nico Hall, and Drew Burnett Gregory.{{Cite web |title=Meet The Team |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/meet-the-team/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Autostraddle |language=en-US}}

In a 2016 article for Nylon Magazine, founder Riese Bernard discussed Autostraddle's alternative revenue strategies in the context of the rapid disintegration of queer women-oriented publications and online spaces.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nylon.com/articles/after-ellen-future-queer-community-on-internet|title=After AfterEllen: On The Future Of The Queer Community On The Internet|website=NYLON|date=23 September 2016 |access-date=2016-12-01}} She has noted that advertisers largely do not buy ad space on the website. Autostraddle's [https://www.autostraddle.com/yes-fundraising-is-part-of-our-business-model-heres-why/ funding model] relies heavily on memberships, merchandise, and community fundraising.

In May 2023, Bernard announced that a decline in advertising revenue that began in 2020 had forced Autostraddle to reduce spending by cutting expenses and concluding some independent contractor roles. The independent contractors whose contracts were terminated were given three months of paid notice and invited to remain as team freelance writers.{{cite web|last1=Bernard |first1=Riese |title=A Message From The CEO/CFO |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/a-message-from-autostraddle/ |website=Autostraddle |date=May 23, 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Theisen |first1=Lauren |title=Autostraddle Is Spiraling Toward A Shutdown Or A Sale |url=https://defector.com/autostraddle-is-spiraling-toward-a-shutdown-or-a-sale |website=Defector |date=July 11, 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023}}

In August 2023, Autostraddle was acquired by For Them, a company founded in 2021 that designs and manufactures chest binders, and the website was rebranded as "Autostraddle by For Them".{{Cite web|last1=Hamilton |first1=Colleen |title=Autostraddle's New Owner Promises a New Era. Readers and Writers Have Questions |url=https://www.them.us/story/autostraddle-acquired-for-them-queer-media |website=Them |date=August 23, 2023 |access-date=August 24, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Eden |first1=Rose |title=Autostraddle Acquired by For Them: LGBTQ+ News Site's Rebranding and Expansion in Its 15th Year |url=https://www.outfrontmagazine.com/autostraddle-acquired-by-for-them-lgbtq-news-sites-rebranding-and-expansion-in-its-12th-year/ |work=Out Front |date=September 14, 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023}}{{cite web|last1=Theisen |first1=Lauren |title=Autostraddle To Be Acquired By Queer Wellness Company For Them |url=https://defector.com/autostraddle-to-be-acquired-by-queer-wellness-company-for-them |website=Defector |date=August 21, 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023}}

Autostraddle publishes content on relationship dynamics, radical queer politics, economic injustice, among other things.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/clicking-the-bean-the-history-of-the-internets-most-popular-lesbian-blog/|title=Clicking the Bean: The History of the Internet's Most Popular Lesbian Blog|date=2015-09-11|newspaper=Vice|access-date=2018-01-27|language=en-US}} In 2019, Riese Bernard and Buffering the Vampire Slayer's Kristin Russo started To L and Back, a podcast recapping every single episode of The L Word in order, one by one.{{Cite news|url=https://www.advocate.com/media/2019/5/17/12-gay-lgbtq-podcasts-you-should-be-listening|title=12 LGBTQ Podcasts You Should Be Listening To|date=2019-05-17|website=www.advocate.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}} Filmmaker Carly Usdin took over for Russo as co-host starting in season 2, and the show began featuring regular special guests.{{Cite web|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/to-l-and-back-l-word-podcast-episode-201-life-loss-leaving/|title=To L and Back, L Word Podcast Episode 201: Life, Loss, Leaving with Vico Ortiz|date=2019-07-29|language=en|access-date=2020-09-10}}{{Cite web |last=Candace Hansen |date=2021-10-11 |title=Why this season of 'The L Word' might be its most controversial yet |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-10-11/the-l-word-generation-q-season-2-finale-showtime |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

As part of their travel section, Autostraddle began publishing Queer Girl City Guides in 2012. Queer Girl City Guides are user-created, Autostraddle-approved guides to cities in the United States and abroad for queer women moving to or traveling to a new city. The guides discuss places to dance, eat, drink, be entertained, party, play sports, get an "alternative lifestyle haircut" or tattoo, celebrate pride, purchase LGBTQ books and publications, participate in activism, and more. The guides also provide insight on local colleges, gayborhoods and neighborhoods or places to avoid. Some guides also include sections on trans culture.{{Cite web |last=Bop |first=She |date=2012-05-17 |title=Portland Queer Girl City Guide |url=https://blog.sheboptheshop.com/portland-queer-girl-city-guide/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=She Bop's Blog |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2017-04-27 |title=Queer Women Travel Sites To Inspire Your Perfect Vacation |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/queer-women-travel-sites-to-inspire-your-perfect-vacation_b_58fbc217e4b0f02c3870eb03 |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}

Starting in September 2018, Autostraddle has held the Autostraddle TV Awards (formerly the "Gay Emmys" and "Queer TV Awards"), in which readers and contributors annually vote for their favorite LGBT-inclusive television broadcasts.{{Cite web |title=Autostraddle TV Awards Archives |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/tag/autostraddle-tv-awards/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Autostraddle |language=en-US}}

Autostraddle hosts in-person events such as "Holigay Meet-Ups"{{Cite news|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/come-gather-all-ye-gentlequeers-its-autostraddle-holigay-meet-up-season-360704/|title=Come Gather, All Ye Gentlequeers: It's Autostraddle Holigay Meet-Up Season!|date=2016-11-30|newspaper=Autostraddle|access-date=2016-12-02|language=en-US}} and its Pride Meet-Up Month,{{Cite news|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/lets-get-proud-its-almost-autostraddle-pride-meet-up-month-339849/|title=Let's Get Proud: It's Almost Autostraddle Pride Meet-Up Month!|date=2016-05-25|newspaper=Autostraddle|access-date=2016-12-02|language=en-US}} which are organized by users with Autostraddle's support and promotion. Autostraddle also offers ideas, tips, and resources for hosting a meet-up.{{Cite news|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/events-meet-ups/meet-up-resources-faqs/|title=Meet-Up Resources & FAQs|date=2016-03-01|newspaper=Autostraddle|access-date=2016-12-02|language=en-US}}

In April 2012, the first A-Camp{{cite web|url=http://www.a-camp.org/|title=A-Camp|access-date=2013-12-04}} was held as a pilot at Alpine Meadows Retreat Center in Angelus Oaks, California, where 163 queer campers and 35 staff members attended. A-Camps include various panels, workshops, discussion groups, classes, entertainment and other activities.Bernard, Riese: [http://www.autostraddle.com/camp-autostraddle-131312 "Introducing Camp Autostraddle"] (14 February 2012). Retrieved 11 May 2012. Subsequent A-Camps have been larger, with between 300–400 campers in attendance per camp, including staff, and have taken place in the same location in California in September 2012,[http://www.autostraddle.com/introducing-camp-autostraddle-september-2012-138148/ "Introducing Camp Autostraddle 2.0"] (21 May 2012). Retrieved 21 May 2012. May 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.autostraddle.com/introducing-camp-autostraddle-may-2013-registration-is-open-149584/|title=Introducing Camp Autostraddle 3.0|date=12 November 2012|work=Autostraddle.com|access-date=4 December 2013}} October 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.curvemag.com/Curve-Magazine/Web-Articles-2014/Queer-Camping-with-Autostraddle-Day-One/|title=Queer Camping With Autostraddle|date=24 June 2013|work=Curvemag.com|access-date=4 December 2013}} May 2014,{{cite web|url=http://www.autostraddle.com/introducing-camp-autostraddle-5-0-217889/|title=Introducing Camp Autostraddle 5.0|date=17 January 2014|work=Autostraddle.com|access-date=29 June 2014}} May 2015{{cite web|url=http://www.autostraddle.com/introducing-camp-autostraddle-6-0-274006/|title=Introducing Camp Autostraddle 6.0|date=27 January 2015|publisher=Autostraddle.com|access-date=21 June 2015}} and June 2016. A-Camp took place in Wisconsin in October 2016 and May 2017,{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/heres-what-happened-when-i-went-to-queer-summer-camp_us_593d82a5e4b0b65670e56b92|title=Here's What Happened When I Went To Queer Summer Camp|last=Block|first=Jenny|date=2017-06-11|website=Huffington Post|language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-21}} and the event moved to Ojai, California in May 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/introducing-camp-autostraddle-x-408740/|title=Introducing Camp Autostraddle X|date=2018-01-30|work=Autostraddle|access-date=2018-04-21|language=en-US}} As of July 2022, A-Camp has been put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |title=A-Camp — Taking a Break |url=http://a-camp.org/taking-a-break |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=A-Camp |language=en-US}}

Special guests at A-Camp have included Mary Lambert, Cameron Esposito, River Butcher, Julie Goldman, Brandy Howard, Be Steadwell, Mara Wilson, Gabe Dunn, DeAnne Smith, Hannah Hart, Somer Bingham, Lex Kennedy, Megan Benton, Mal Blum, Dan Owens-Reid, Kristin Russo, Jasika Nicole, Jenny Owen Youngs, Julia Nunes, Brittani Nichols, Mollie Thomas, Haviland Stillwell, Ashley Reed, and Sarah Croce. WNYC's podcast Nancy featured A-Camp in the episode "Kathy Goes to Camp".{{Citation|title=#14: Kathy Goes to Camp – Nancy – WNYC Studios|newspaper=Wnyc Studios |url=https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/nancy-podcast-kathy-goes-to-queer-camp/|language=en|access-date=2018-04-21}}

In the 2012 Weblog Awards, Autostraddle was awarded Best Weblog of The Year, Best Group/Community Weblog and Best Entertainment Weblog.[http://2012.bloggi.es/ Twelfth Annual Weblog Awards] Retrieved 11 May 2012. Autostraddle was nominated for GLAAD's Outstanding Blog Award in 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/nominees |title=Media Awards Nominees #glaadawards |publisher=GLAAD|access-date=4 December 2013}} 2014, and 2018,{{Cite news|url=https://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/nominees|title=GLAAD Media Awards Nominees #glaadawards|work=GLAAD|access-date=2018-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124101121/https://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/nominees|archive-date=2018-01-24|url-status=dead}} and won in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.glaad.org/releases/kerry-washington-roland-emmerich-honored-26th-annual-glaad-media-awards-los-angeles|title=Kerry Washington, Roland Emmerich honored at 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles |work=GLAAD|date=22 March 2015 |access-date=21 June 2015}} One of their articles,"105 Trans Women On American TV: A History and Analysis" by Riese Bernard, was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award in the category of Outstanding Digital Journalism in 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/825669/glaad-media-awards-2017-complete-list-of-nominations|title=GLAAD Media Awards 2017: Complete List of Nominations|date=2017-01-31|newspaper=ENews|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-27}}

A 2024 Australian Feminist Studies article argued that Autostraddle is "incorporating feminist and queer theory to (re)envision a more equitable digital future."{{Cite journal |last1=Obbard |first1=Kiera |last2=McLean |first2=Lauren |date=2024-01-24 |title=Queering the System from within: Autostraddle as a Method for Future Digital Worlds |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08164649.2024.2306608 |journal=Australian Feminist Studies |volume=39 |issue=121 |language=en |pages=371–391 |doi=10.1080/08164649.2024.2306608 |issn=0816-4649|url-access=subscription }}

{{Portal|LGBTQ}}

• AfterEllen
• GO
• The Ladder
• Homosocialization

{{reflist}}

• [http://autostraddle.com Official website]

Category:Lesbian-related magazines

Category:Lesbian-related websites

Category:LGBTQ-related magazines published in the United States

Category:LGBTQ-related websites

Category:Magazines established in 2009

Category:Online magazines published in the United States

Category:Queer women's culture