Hello friends! I’m not going to ask how the new year is treating you because it is evident that things are still ass in the world right now. Nor am I going to make any content promises for the year for the newsletter, because we are more than two years into a global pandemic with worse numbers than ever before and it simply doesn’t make sense to do so in my gut. I’m tired and you are too! I am simply happy to have my health and that you’re also alive and reading me. What I can promise is that I’ll keep showing up in your inbox as authentically as possible and keep funding causes and mutual aid asks as simply and consistently as I can each month. I do have a list of things I’ll be covering over the next year that will be exclusive to the newsletter - deep dives and Q&A’s, oral histories and what have you - but they’re not promises so much as gifts I’m going to drop when it feels right to do so. I want to write to you about things that matter when they matter, and I want to be as honest as possible while doing so. Being able to do so with no real editorial concerns to focus on has been life changing for me.
It’s my birthday today, so I’m going to celebrate by dressing up and reading smut and raising my rates for work to better reflect my talent, expertise, and capacity. But I also wanted to give you a gift and offer a discount for the next week on the newsletter.
There will, as usual, be a mix of paywalled content and free newsletters for the year, and paid subscribers get access to everything and early access to events and projects I have up my sleeve for the next year.
Speaking of events - I am going to be chatting with filmmaker Sam Feder (the genius behind Netflix’s Disclosure) tomorrow at 6PM EST for Saratoga Springs MLK celebration, focusing on queer creativity and contemporary culture and how queerness and social justice are transformative ideas that share a lot of space. It is on offer in collaboration with Yaddo and Saratoga Pride. I’ll be reading a little from my children’s book, Queer Heroes. If you want to have me read to your kid/nibling/you from the book, it’ll be a good opportunity to take up!
The link for more information on the event is here. There’s a bunch of programming both before and after you are welcome to attend.
Ok! I won’t keep you. I do want to leave you with some of my favorite things currently, though:
Beauty recs: I’ve been using the Kosas Tinted Face Oil lately and it is as good as people say! I haven’t tried new foundations or base makeup in months for many obvious reasons but I wanted something for the weather change and this is incredible for dry skin. It makes you glowy!
Home goods: I was given a Miir Insulated Bottle a few months ago and it has replaced my go-to thermos that I use every day because it keeps hot tea and coffee warm for the ENTIRE day and the design is beautiful. Very comfortable handle situation and it’s simply sexy. I recommend! And I upgraded my pillows because I’m a side sleeper to these ones, and it’s really helped.
PS! I’m on tiktok now.
Ok! Talk to you soon, take good care of yourself and surround yourself with beauty in my honor today. Make me proud!!!! xoxo