Unlock our secret data: Go behind the scenes of QueerAF's 2024

Every year, we review our work as an independent, regulated LGBTQIA+ publisher. Now you can too:

Trust in mainstream media is at an all-time low. Short-term ad-driven revenue models are failing the LGBTQIA+ community.

The diversity of those who write our stories has barely changed. A fundamentally broken industry constantly misrepresents us.

That's why QueerAF is a platform where creators, journalists and producers can get paid and commissioned directly by the QueerAF community. We're also the UK's only press-regulated LGBTQIA+ publisher - because we're not afraid of accountability.

Usually, only editors get to see data like this but we're sharing it with you - because our readers are our most important editors:

The topline is:

• Seven in ten of our writers are from a Trans+ background - that's an increase since last year.
• Three in ten of our writers are from a racialised community - that's nearly three times better than the national media.
• Four in ten of our writers are disabled - which as a disabled founder, remains an incredibly high priority for our work.

But don't just take our word for it; scroll down to see how we've done.

We've released this data as part of our annual LGBT+ History Month fundraiser. Although memberships are always the best way to support us – if you think our approach to creating media with queer folk from marginalised backgrounds rocks, please:
Donate to support QueerAF journalism

Sexual and romantic orientations

One in ten of our writers identified as attracted to multiple genders, whether because they were bisexual, pansexual or another M-spec identity.

Slightly under one in ten (6%) said they fell within the asexual spectrum, which includes demisexual and demi-romantic orientations too. This community is vastly underrepresented within the media. We've set out to invest in this area in the year ahead already.

8% of our writers identified with the word lesbian, while many other women writers used the term queer women.

By label and by nature:

67% are QueerAF

Perhaps, given our name, it will be no surprise that a large majority of our contributors identified with the label queer. They either did as their primary label, orientation, as a member of the queer community or as politically queer alongside other intersectionalities.

Gender identity

A large majority of our contributors are gender diverse, in fact - seven in ten (69%) were. That's an increase from last year's already high proportion.

Many use or identify with multiple gender identities or labels, especially those who are non-binary. This reflects the fluidity of gender.

What she/he/they said:

Our writers pronouns

Getting peoples pronouns right is easy if you ask, that's why we do. The more we all talk about pronouns, the more we can make the act of asking normal. That's why alongside each writer's byline we list their pronouns and intersectionality. Becuase ultimately, their lived-experience is everything.

52% of our contributors in the last year identify as transgender, 39% as non-binary and 5% as genderqueer or agender.

Of our cisgender writers, 22% were women, and 6% were men.

Marginalised backgrounds

The media needs to build trust in all areas of the LGBTQIA+ community. But racialised communities have been hit hardest by the worst traits of the UK press. 6% are from Asian backgrounds, and 17% Black - the latter of which is a increase from last year.

As a small, but new independent publisher, we recognise we have work to do to build and earn that trust. We're proud that 28% of our writers come from a racialised community; that's double the UK press average of 14%.

As we strive to set the model for the rest of the media, and our resources to invest in more areas of the community increase, we're excited to work even more marginalised LGBTQIA+ communities

NCTJ Diversity in Journalism's annual report continues to find that working-class people were heavily unrepresented in the news industry. It's because journalism relies heavily on graduates and university routes. Our schemes, which welcome novice writers with no exerpertise aim to help others who don't use these routes.

22% of our contributors come from a low-income background, while 7% are from a migrant background.

Disabilities

NCTJ's Diversity in Journalism 2023 report found that in UK newsrooms, 22% of journalists have a disability. At QueerAF we double that number. Four in ten (42%) of our contributors are disabled, have a chronic illness or neurodiversity.

Folks with neurodiversity are often locked out of opportunities because workplaces don't understand their needs. It's why we work hard to design our schemes and communication approach, so they work for contributors - not just us.

What about the cash?

How we spend your money

We're funded by people, not advertisers. It's so we can make content that counts - for the community, not clicks.

Our members set the agenda and tell us what to create. We've created an 'open newsroom' culture to tell the best version of the story, not simply the fastest.

So it's only right we tell you how we spent your money too.

You fund QueerAF:

Our funds go to queer creatives

After salaries for the QueerAF team which account for just over a third of our current outgoings this is how we spend our funds. They go on accounting, tax, digital and other business services to make all of it happen – but the rest of our funds go directly back to LGBTQIA+ creatives.

Our next biggest costs were IT software and subscriptions like the non-profit Ghost, which we host and run our newsletter with, plus Zapier, Typeform, MailerLite and other tools you use to interact with us.

After this was tax and accountancy fees, like other digital businesses, we also lose around 2% of our income to payment fees.

You are our most important editor

We don't accept advertising on our platform or in our newsletter. This approach lets us deliver valuable journalism that counts without outside pressures - but it means you are our most important funder.

The unique approach we've set out in this year in review transparency report shows just how important it is that you're in charge of what we make.

We've delivered these commissions based on what matters to you - our members and readers, not advertisers or other outside pressures.

We do all this alongside supporting queer creatives with their career, portfolio and a joint mission to change the media.

Although memberships are always the best way to support us – if you think we've done a good job delivering commissions to a diverse range of LGBTQIA+ contributors matters - please, support our crowdfunder the UK’s beloved queer newsletter and loudest advocate of queer creatives can stay strong and keep fighting for you.