April Update: Cooped up & Cute (Patreon)

Hello friends! 

Okay. Yes. Things are weird. Everything's weird! This is supposed to be the time of year when we're shedding our thick winter coats and our hearts are turning to fancy, whatever that is. I'm all about trying to make the best of whatever situation you're in, but this situation is ... well let's call it CHALLENGING even for an optimist.

So, first things first: I know there's a lot of uncertainty about the next few months, and if you need to pause your support on Patreon to focus on other priorities, please do that without any guilt. Take care of yourself -- I'll still be making YouTubes and podcasts and livestreams and whatnot if you have to step back from Patreon for a bit.

And speaking of which, if you could use some silly fun diversions (and I think we all could right now) I've got lots of new stuff for you to enjoy, and I'll be producing lots more while we're all cooped up. (Check out me and my partner James livestreaming chill games on Twitch!)

Here's what your support makes possible:

• Culture Cruise! All backers get early ad-free access to Culture Cruise videos, taking a deep dive on queer content in the entertainment we love. Last month's video was about small Outback towns (and indeed all of Australia) was transformed by the movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. And this month, I'm working on a video I think you'll love about Madeline Kahn's role in elevating queer New York theater. I'm aiming to have that video ready for you by April 24.
• The Sewers of Paris! Each week on the podcast, a guest plucks a piece of entertainment from their past -- books, movies, music, shows, and more -- and answers the question: how did it change your life? Recent episodes featured celebrated comic/erotica artist Joe Phillips, Puerto Rican writer Dale Lazarov, and also William Madison, who worked on what was then the most expensive flop in Broadway history.
• Livestreams! Come say hello, share your recommendations for stuff to watch, and make friends in the chat! I love getting your entertainment suggestions & can't wait to talk about all of the queer entertainment that’s lighting up your life. Our next livestream is on  Saturday April 18 at 11 Pacific. Click the bell here to get a reminder when we go live. 
• Cozy Pants! A podcast for Patreon backers at $4/month and up! Join me and my partner James for a fun affectionate chat about the cultural comforts that are lighting up our lives. 
• Weekly Debrief! Get caught up on the latest LGBTQ news, how it affects you, and actions you can take! Weekly Debrief is your quick roundup of everything you need to know about what's happening with queer people in the world, and how you can help.

Oh and BTW if you like LGBTQ podcasts you may enjoy my other project, Queens of Adventure, a comedy-adventure podcast that stars drag queens playing Dungeons & Dragons. In March we launched a second podcast called Queens of Adventure: Legends that features one-shot stories, stand-alone adventures, and live show recordings, so that's a great place to dive in!

April is going to be strange, there's no way around it. With everyone's health on the line, we're going to have to keep giving each other physical space and making the most of solitude. But we also have Earth Day coming up, and Easter if you observe that, and Ramandan if you observe that. And let's not forget 4/20! We'll have to find some creative ways to make the most of those milestones this year, and hopefully we'll create some new traditions by enjoying them from the comfort of home and with the companionship of online friends.

As we navigate this weird new world, I want to thank you again for backing my video, audio, and livestream projects. I couldn't make any of it without you! I'm ferociously grateful to you all for helping to make the Internet just a little bit gayer, now more than ever.

Matt

PS: If you haven't already, follow me over on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and Twitch!