matt bernstein
patreon
Thanks for being here.
🕑 Added 2024-01-02 05:16:07 +0000 UTCFor a long time, I essentially disregarded Patreon as an option for making a sustainable living as a creator because I wanted everything I put out to always be free. In a perfect world – or at least a world where Instagram pays creators for their contributions to the platform and shares a percentage of the ad revenue they generate, which I have pathetically begged Meta employees to do more times than I’d like to admit – I’d still feel that way.
What I chose to do instead was make being an Internet Homosexual™ sustainable by doing occasional brand partnerships. The idea was: I’ll take the corporate money so I never have to ask for yours. I can count on two hands the number of brand deals I’ve done in the last two years, and fortunately, that was all I really needed to make it work. The experience of working with brands varies widely, but typically, when hiring a very political and very queer creator, their marketing teams knew to relinquish the creative power to me and let me advertise their product or service in my own voice. I thought that as long as I kept making work of a certain caliber and engaged people on a high level, the option for me to make money that way would be there.
Evidently, I was wrong. Plainly put, this year saw queer people become highly controversial again. The Bud Light boycott, the North Face boycott, the Starbucks boycott (the idiotic one over a trans person being included in a commercial, not the current Palestine-related one which is far more valid), the Disney boycott – what wasn’t boycotted? Companies learned quickly that they couldn’t hire queer people without facing the wrath of Fox News, and so they didn’t. The hollowness of corporate allyship reared its ugly head.
In light of this, I had a decision to make. I could fundamentally change the work I create online and sanitize it into oblivion; SOME gay people are still getting hired! The interior design gays and the makeup review gays and the foodie gays are still working, as far as I’m aware (to be clear, I’m happy for them). To me, this did not feel like an option. If I cannot keep doing the only thing I ever wanted to do in all of this – bring people together, cut through noise, be an unabashed faggot, fight the right people – then what’s the point?
So here we are, doing the other option: hoping a small but mighty percent of people who consume my work think it’s worth throwing a few bucks at, so that I may never again feel beholden to the powers that be.
I have no idea how this will go, but I’m extremely excited by the intimacy of this space and the fact that nobody here will come for my throat the way they do out there in the real world (Twitter). And if you DID come here just to make a jab, hey, thanks for the $5.
I’m grateful you’re here. Please be patient as I learn this platform and work out the kinks. Also, please comment what you’d be most interested in seeing here, as this is a space for you and I want it to feel worth your while.
Happy New Year. <3
Comments
Al_Ma
Dear Matt, I only found out about your podcast last weekend, and have been binging on past episodes since. It was such a joy to discover your brain and heart and it reminded of when I discovered You're Wrong About and Maintenance Phase a few years back. I now consider you a part of their extended universe ;) . Your brain is sharp, your heart is big, your commentary is needed. So excited to binge all Patreons episodes now! <3
elise
so happy to be here matt, thank you for all you do 🫶
Jodie
❤️🔥❤️🔥
Matt Bernstein
thank you jodie <3
Jodie
Hi Matt, I’m new to patreon but a long time listener of the pod. I think you’re amazing and the work you do is essential. You are such a good speaker and the guests you have on are so insightful. The world is a better place with you in it Matt 🩷🩵
Sophie I.
Your podcast is AMAZING! I’ve learned so much!
Matt Wellstrom
I found you through Natalie and now I follow you both here ❤️
Matt Bernstein
🥹🩷
Rebekah Coote
Not gonna lie, I heard you did a Bye Sister patreon exclusive and signed up on that basis. That has thrown me into the rabbit hole of your back catalogue and you definitely have become A Favourite.
Hedejeh Mohammad
I love you 💖. My first episode was the JK Rowling one and you got me hooked. None of the episodes I've listened to so far (I still have some to go!) disappointed me so I look forward to whatever else you feel like sharing. Though truth be told so far I have mostly turned to you to learn. Because I mostly listen while doing housework, driving or walking, I don't tend to watch visuals but focus on audio. Love from Belgium
Cordelia Reagan
Delight to be here and thank you for all you do
Andrea Poulieva
So happy to be able to support you and your work in this small way. I've always believed that a thousand small contributions can be so effective at either making or breaking something or someone. I'm happy to be an anonymous many that helps you on your way. If and when you make it to Western Europe, I'd love to catch a drink with you 😁. Stay fruity !
Thomas Bottom
Thank You for being ‘out there’ in every way. Appreciate the opportunity to help and love the podcast variety and range of topics discussed.
Sarina
thank you for everything you do, matt! would love to hear more on how you keep your calm with all the homophobic/racist/angry voices out there and the best ways you've found to engage with it/change people's minds. Are some minds fundamentally beyond changing?
Carla Sibson
Thank you as always for your nuanced and highly informative podcasts and content in general!
Delaney and Willa (Room 607)
as you mentioned in the gay panic ep, Anita Bryant is your Roman Empire. saurrr an expanded dip into the ABCU (Anita Bryant cinematic universe) would be delightful! love your work and glad I can support you here <3
Munachiso Nwokolo
If you ever come to London, come crash 💕💅🏿
Munachiso Nwokolo
Incredible work 🖤 🖤 my God your MIND?! 🧠🫦
connor 🪱
i’m so happy to be able to support u more matt, ur content makes the world a better place fr <3 love, the person who named ur plant faguette 🕺
Sarah
No, thank YOU!
Romina Verwichte
Happy there's an easy level way to compensate you!
Sev
ily and also contrapoints won't take any more of my money until she "finishes a video" so thanks for taking some off my hands
Susana Saldarriaga
Your work and your voice is amazing and I’m really happy I get to support you. Thank you!
rachel 🌈🍉
grateful for your work, matt! first (and probably last) patreon I’ll pay for 💞
kaydee
Thankful for you Matt. ♥️ You articulate points on issues that I feel but struggle to clearly discuss, and provide visibility to such important perspectives. Also here for the validating queer iced coffee content 💁♀️
Amanda
Relatively new fan of yours here, and I’m so delighted to be able to support you in this small way. The service you provide in your Instagram carousels is invaluable and deserve compensation. Glad to be here. 🫶🏼
Bekah Ward
Absolutely insensed by the blunt shift in representation of companies this past year. Not surprised, just angered. Just like you said in your last episode: they were happy representing us when it was US giving them more money and ad revenue. But when it came to actually standing by those values, they abandoned us for the cheap values of Conservatives, homophobes, transphobes, and misogynist idiots. Which, let's face it, they've always been more willing to listen to (since it is typically from the mouths of cis-het white men). I am so happy to support you here, Matt. Your IG page and your podcast have spoken so many truths and reached me on such a personal level. SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY - only don't shut up. Please, keep talking. LOUDLY 📣👏
Sarah Land
I am so thankful for your strong voice - it is needed more than ever!
Iga
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Moss_and_Rocksss
Very glad to be here and be queer and supporting you!
Kenzie Traill
So happy to be here to support what you do! Editorial freedom is so important ♥ ♥ ♥
John Wasiniak
Glad to be here & to SUPPORT YOU!!!
Jasper
YIPPIE
Aviv
Really proud of you for maintaining your integrity 💖
Juliana Norton
Yay!! I’m so excited :) Some short form content (maybe 5 minute reaction videos) would be fun!
Johnathen Evans
Your analyses, comments and voice are invaluable in so many ways. I think your channel provides an immensely helpful means for our kindred to know they are heard, that we can disagree with each other civilly, and still engage with the thorniest questions of our times. Thank you for all you do.
Bee Jopling
Morons, unite!
Corey Rae McRae
Your content is so valuable - the combination of empathy (even for people who may want to do you harm) and making sure you have your facts right is 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻Awesome work.
Maria Loreto
I love your podcast, Matt! Your work is so very needed right now.
Claire
i’m so glad i can support you through this! i love your work so much 🫶
Rachel Rose Mazza
So excited to be here Matt!!!
Iga
You deserve every penny and to be able to express the wholeness of your glorious being. What you give the world is so valuable and you have every right to be compensated accordingly. Thank you for asking for what you need. We love holding this space for you and being a safe alternative to corporate greed. 🫶🏻
Sarah
Love having a safe space with the queer babes☺️
Sarah
Happy to support, thank you for all of your content. Love you forever💕✨
Dayle Moon
So happy to support you here. You're my most re-shared creator. Love your work, love you.
Uzma M
Sorry this had to happen this way, but so glad youre here! so excited to be a part of the conversation - live! - while supporting you in a small way xx
bakersdozn
Very happy you started the Patreon. It feels so good to be able to support you directly (in a very small way) because I’ve certainly felt supported by the work you do. Thank you for making the slice of the internet I inhabit more educational and unapologetically more queer!
Jake Grear
love u king💕🤧
Lauren
I love you Matt, in your last episode you briefly jokingly mentioned a patreon and after that I scoured the internet and was not able to find it! Thank you for giving the people what they want aka a way to support you in a monetary way so you stay being YOU!!!
Regina Collins
Lol, it was the "However gives you even 1 cent is a complete moron" comment (stories) for me. Super happy to support such an inspiring activist.
Jon Skoog
Happy to contribute! I found your podcast at the whim of the YouTube algorithm & have been a fan since!
Jennifer
Wooo!! So excited to be here!
Anthony
East yes of my life!!!! Hello from Australia ❤️
cindy
excited for you!!👑
Alex K
I am really excited to have a place to support you like this. I’ve followed you for *years*, and have always wanted a way to give back or say thank you at the least, so I’m glad to have this. I can always trust your content to be accurate with sources, 10/10 in quality, and to be on the good side of everything such as human rights, and I love that about it. As far as things I’d like to see here, something cool would be for you to showcase more creators that are queer and/or support queer people, like you do on your podcast, for us to have a good place to see more people to support if that sounds like something that’s doable. Basically a little positivity through awesome representation among all the sad realities of this world.
Sabrina
So happy to be able to support you directly and delighted that so many others are too
JaNay Larsen
Fox News can stay mad. I'm much more excited about humans supporting humans. It's revolutionizing.
Laura
Just came over from the podcast. I've always wanted to support you outside of Instagram and this is perfect! Looking forward to the new content <3
Lydthekidmaybenowmid
As a fan, I'm so happy you started Patreon! We all know if we can't afford it, you're fine to give the content away. But those of us who can are so happy to support you and offer something in return for all your hard work and insights! Thank you for always being kind (hard work), thoughtful, and clever in your presentation of things. You're awesome! ❤️❤️❤️
Chris K
You’re the best person I have seen at taking complicated queer issues and giving your perspective with facts to back up everything you present. You’re such a valuable voice to have on our side, and I’m glad you are taking the path where you can continue to express yourself completely and authentically!
Hannah Ogden
Never signed up for Patreon for anyone until you. You and the work you do is so very important!
Lillie
You've taught me so much. Glad to be able to support.
Allie Blom
Tbh it’s crossed my mind a time or two that I would pay to be friends with you but I’ll take what I can get
Natasha
I think your voice is valuable and worth supporting! I’m excited to be here for whatever you share!
Joel Sonnier
I'm so happy to be able to help support your work! Love ya 💜
Jason
Glad to be here and support your work. Thank you for all you do.
Gabby Matthews
What you do is so important to me, and finding the online community of queers that you have gathered has changed my life! So I’m rockin with a patreon tbh.
Emma Pavel
Love having a tangible way to support your work 💕
Lindsay
Supporting your work is worth way more than a coffee or two a month. ❤️
Candice
Love your work and its accessibility! It’s incredible for educating others who otherwise wouldn’t take the time to educate themselves! Couldn’t be happier to support!❤️
Yasmin Moraes
Matt thank you for existing and making an effort to make the world a better place for all! You are such an amazing person!
Ana Fressl
Beyond excited to be able to support and follow you here! Been wanting to quit Instagram for ages but was so sad that I wouldn’t be able to follow and support your work. Now that this is an option, bye bye Meta and hello Patreon! 🙌 Matt, thank you for being such an incredible human being and giving so much to the world - love you! 🩷
Molly
You had me at Reagan’s grave is a gender neutral bathroom
Jennifer Nathanson
Just like everyone else, super happy to be here and supportive in any way that I can 🩷
Beth
I would gladly pay for the amount of insights and useful tidbits I have gotten from you over a long time. You have worked and you deserve the pay from those of us who are able. I’m so glad you’re still here and posting 💖
Jacqui Chesterton
Am I the only person having issues with the chat, though? Just checking. If it’s just me I’ll figure it out :)
Jacqui Chesterton
Matt, I am sure everyone agrees we could not be happier to be here! You give so much to the world. 💗
Alo Hickey
THRILLED TO BE HERE, best £5 I have ever spent and makes it sweeter to know that you making money for being a gorgeous brave human being will absolutely definitely piss off a variety of Zionist/homophobic/hateful fuck wits :)
Amanda Kubota
Very happy to support someone that does such an important work and really put effort in everything you share! 🫶🏻
Mary & Scott
So excited for this!! And for you getting paid to be YOU!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾💕💕💕 it’s what we all deserve
Léo Sailley
Happy to be able to support you, thanks for the work you do <3
Devon R.
SO so happy you’re on Patreon! Happy to be supporting you!! To be completely honest, I’ve been wondering if getting off Instagram would be a good move for me, but I always felt sad knowing I wouldn’t be able to see your content anymore, so seeing this announcement will make quitting Insta easier 😂 excited to get to chat with you and fellow patrons too!
Andrew Smith
Happy to be here <3. Supporting you directly is a no brainer!
LK
Joined Patreon just for you! Thanks for everything you do!
Kirk Wise
Love your work. The way you present information is so easily consumed and well thought out. I’m thrilled to be able to support you and the work that you do. The podcast has been fantastic. Look forward to seeing and listening to your future content and continuing to support you through this platform.
Cam
This is the first patreon I’ve ever subscribed too just because i love your work (and I looooove your podcast) so much! Begging for another episode with Contrapoints
Mathieu
Really happy to support the top quality content you make. Every post means so much to me, every podcast is such a special moment ❤️
Jules Inkwell
I love everything you do and it's really meant so much to me. When I was on Instagram I remember following you and your posts really gave me a lot to think about and made me feel less alone. I love the new podcast, it's one of the best podcasts out currently. Happy to be able to support you here!
Ditte Sayers
Happy to be able to support you in honor of those who can't.
Maria V
I really enjoy your content, so I’m happy to support you! Curious to see the things you bring to this place ☺️
Theo Rabinowitz
Happy to be able to support you and the tremendous work and content you put out!
Bee Jopling
Honestly thrilled to be able to support your work
Valerie D
Happy to be able to support in a small way!
Lexi Seals
So excited to be here!!
tyn_pet
Wohoo! I'm really glad I can directly support what you're doing, cause you're doing it GREAT!! Love you, happy new year! 💖
Zakariah Massoud
I think a monthly update on like a niche thing you’ve heard of or recently have taken up could be very interesting, and a way to shine light on smaller creators or such as well
Zakariah Massoud
My favorite internet homosexual I have been waiting for a chance to pay you for all the good you do.. thank you 🫶🏼
Luca Balázs
After the incredibly quality content you share happy to be able to support you some way. Hey! 😊
carey thewind
happy to support your voice & the work you do so well. thanks for that & all you contribute ❤️
Meg
Just joined!! So excited to support your work!
Mercy
Happy new year! I’m so excited to be able to support you!
seli
happy new year!! looking forward to being one of many woke mob bosses 🩷
taterdash
Hell yeah!
James D'Agostino
Your content makes me hopeful for our community and the world, I'm glad someone else gets it and is doing the work to put it out there and be so genuine about it! All the power to you!! And super happy to support your work
MinaAnne
Happy new year, and happy to support!
Pascal Worreschk
I binged 'a bit fruity' over the last couple of days and really enjoyed it! Glad that there is now a patreon to support your great work. Happy new year!
