A+ is a vital part of keeping Autostraddle around. In fact, members are incredibly important to our business model. And this is not in a “your gift is one of many sources of income that provide a huge buffer between us existing and shutting down” way — but MUCH MORE in a “you keep our literal bills paid month to month and we would disappear in a poof of gay smoke without you” kind of way.

Also, A+ starts at just $4 a month (if you’re reading this and you want to join), and it’s the power of that collective that has kept Autostraddle from falling into the abyss in 2020. In addition to literally keeping this site running, for our A+ Members, we have to thank you for showing us how much you care. You comment and send us messages to uplift the team as we work. You contribute to discussions on our advice posts, tell your friends to check us out and share pieces by the Autostraddle team on social media. You are fabulous humans and we’re so grateful you’re here!

So we have something to celebrate together as a digital queer fam this Holigay Season — we’ve put together 13 whole days of A+ content! Some of it will be cozy and familiar, like Into the A+ Advice Box and Some Answers to Some Questions You’ve Been Asking Us. Some of it will be a twist on regulars; we have Malic White as a guest editor for two installments of the erotica series S L I C K for one… and the rest? We’re going to keep those pieces all boxed up in scissoring-patterned wrapping paper until they publish. However, there are TWO pieces I have to tell you about ahead of time because they are timely:

Merry Fistmas | December 13, 2020 1pm PST, on Crowdcast

We’re kicking off the week on Sunday, December 13 with Merry Fistmas: A Virtual Vaginal Fisting Workshop by Malic White at 1pm PST. A+ Members, check the most recent A+ E-News for the password. You can also check the A+ E-News THIS week for the password, or grab it from the A+ only reminder post going up on Autostraddle the morning of the 13th. We’re not putting it here since this post is visible to everyone. If you want in on a magical, memorable workshop about fisting, we’d be overjoyed to welcome you as an A+ member!

There’s so much to explore, and on top of it, you get the deep satisfaction of knowing that your contribution goes toward sustaining a space whose sex and dating content has helped so many queers over the years. We invite you to submit your fisting questions ahead of time via this anonymous form, but no later than end of day tomorrow December 9th.

Don’t worry if you can’t make the live workshop! A recording will be available to members for replay shortly after the end of the event, right at the same link on Crowdcast.

Accessibility info for Merry Fistmas: The workshop will be captioned in real time by White Coat Captioning. The workshop will be presented in a split screen with the live captioning service on one side and the video stream on the other. A lightly edited transcript of the event, including images from any screenshares, with alt text and links to products that are referenced during the event will publish on Autostraddle.com Tuesday, December 15, 2020.

Holigay Cooking AMA | December 15, 2020, 7am-10am PST and 2pm-5pm PST, on Autostraddle.com

There is something else I hope you’ll mark on your calendars! Do you have questions about getting challah just right, problems with your layered cakes, want to style your food like a pro or run through ideas for vegetarian twists on classic dishes with our team?

We’ve got a lineup of Autostraddle writers and staff whose hidden talents range from food photography to experiments in stress baking and more! They’re going to hold a Holigay Cooking AMA on Tuesday, December 15 just for A+ members. Autostraddle writers and staff will be available to answer questions during two sessions occurring 7am-10am PST and 2pm-5pm PST. The post will go live at 6am PST and you can leave questions for the team to answer between sessions, too. AND we know from the Autostraddle Reader Survey that some of you are pro’s at this (and I’m sure many more are seriously skilled home chefs), so please feel free to make your way over and help one another out!

Starting December 13 and going through December 25, you can check back every day for a new Autostraddle Plus treat. We’re looking forward to spending some time with you.

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+!