The release of Autostraddle issue #02 marks a deliberate return to the tactile pleasures of print: a 220-page, ad-free magazine that places queer voices and visuals at its center. The cover stars Melissa King, whose profile by Jaya Saxena explores her life and work in food and memoir, and that choice sets the tone for a publication built around personality-driven stories. Readers encounter longform profiles alongside shorter, playful entries, all produced by an ensemble of artists, writers, and designers united under a clear editorial intention: to make a physical object that feels like a community artifact rather than a commercial product.
The issue balances intimacy and variety, moving from personal recollections to practical pieces without losing cohesion. Inside, you’ll find recipes that recall family histories, creative essays that interrogate belonging, and lighter elements like a brand-new gay crossword meant as both game and cultural marker. This isn’t a disposable zine; the production values and thoughtful sequencing encourage reading, sharing, and display. The magazine positions itself as a collector’s item and a snapshot of contemporary queer creativity curated by editorial hands attuned to nuance and joy.
What’s inside: features, humor, and curiosities
The table of contents reads like a small festival of queer expression: profiles, humor pieces, and cultural reckonings sit beside practical how-tos and visual essays. Expect pieces such as Catherine McCafferty’s practical dating tips, Danny Lavery’s comedic personal anecdote, and Anuhea Nihipali’s reflections on the invisible care that holds friendships together. T Kira Madden contributes a food-rooted family memory, while Kristen Arnett offers a textured portrait of place. Readers will also encounter Malavika Kannan’s event playbook, Zhané Stimpson’s notes on community-building, and a spicy erotica selection by Be Steadwell illustrated by gggrimes. Small pleasures—annotated lyrics, a poster of Melissa King, and the new gay crossword—are sprinkled throughout to reward page-turning attention.
Contributors and standout pieces
Voices collected from across queer life
This issue collects work from more than sixty-five contributors, a figure that reflects both breadth and depth of perspective. The roster includes emerging storytellers and established names collaborating with designers and photographers to produce essays, portraits, and photo series. Creative director Em oversaw layout and image sequencing to ensure that each page functions visually as well as narratively, which means interviews sit comfortably next to experimental layouts and recipe spreads. The result is an editorial ecosystem where memoir, reportage, and art inform one another—an approach that emphasizes cumulative resonance rather than isolated highlights.
Design, photography, and extras
Visual identity and keepsakes
The magazine’s design choices turn every spread into an object worth keeping: bold photography, thoughtful type treatment, and integrated illustration create a unified aesthetic. Photo essays anchor longform pieces while smaller typographic experiments provide breathing room between heavier entries. Beyond content, the issue includes tactile extras that elevate it from reading material to a collectible: a removable poster, a neatly arranged crossword, and illustrated erotica inserts that showcase interdisciplinary collaboration. Such elements were selected to extend the magazine’s life beyond a single read—an intentional choice to make this a piece of queer ephemera that travels from shelf to wall to coffee table.
How to buy, subscribe, and support
Copies of the print magazine are available for purchase individually, and readers eager for ongoing access can subscribe through Autostraddle’s channels or join as an AF+ All-Access member to receive future editions and site benefits. Supporting the magazine helps sustain paid editorial labor and the commissioning of diverse creators, reinforcing a production model that prioritizes creator compensation over advertising revenue. For community members who want to stay connected, Autostraddle maintains active social feeds and video channels, and subscribing is presented as both a personal convenience and a way to invest in ongoing queer cultural work.