Unlock our secret data: Go behind the scenes of QueerAF's 2025

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

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

Two in ten of our writers (21%) identified as attracted to multiple genders (Bi+), whether because they were bisexual, pansexual or another M-spec identity.

Two in ten (21%) said they fell within the asexual spectrum, which includes demisexual and demi-romantic orientations too. This community is vastly underrepresented within the media.

By label and by nature:

53% are QueerAF

Perhaps, given our name, it will be no surprise that a 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 - three quarters (74%) were. That's the third year of this increase from already high proportions.

It reflects the nature of the news agenda over the last year, where the Trans+ community have been on the front line for the whole LGBTQIA+ community's rights which are under attack. We've ensured during critical news, we've worked with Trans+ journalists to deliver the coverage.

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.

Just over half (54%) of our contributors in the last year identify as transgender, a quarter (26%) as non-binary and 5% as genderqueer, genderfluid or agender.

Of our cisgender writers, 16% were women, and 7% 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. Of our contibutors 5% are from Asian backgrounds, 2% Arab World, 2% Latin, and 12% Black.

As an independent publisher, we recognise we have work to do to build and earn that trust. We're proud that 25% of our writers come from a racialised community; that's 79% higher 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 with 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.

We're pleased to say in the last year we've doubled our work with people from a low-income background from two in ten to four in ten (38%). That's five times better than the national media's 7%. Meanwhile 5% told us they are from a migrant background.

Disabilities

NCTJ's Diversity in Journalism 2025 report found that in UK newsrooms, 17% of journalists have a disability (lower than the UK average workplace of 20%).

At QueerAF we double that number. Four in ten (42%) of our contributors are disabled, have a chronic illness or are neurodivergent.

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 adverts. 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 under a half 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-largest costs were business essentials, including rent, travel, and hardware. IT software and subscriptions are also a big cost. Without these, you wouldn't be able to interact with us, and we used the non-profit Ghost, to host and run our newsletter, plus tools like Zapier, Typeform, MailerLite.

After this were tax and accountancy fees, which increased from previous years following last year's budget that increased taxes on small businesses like us. Like other digital businesses, we also lose around 3% of our income to card payment fees.

Just over half of our funding comes from memberships, which is the most powerful way to support us, as it helps us plan ahead. A quarter comes from production and mentoring services for partners like Trans+ History Week and Inclusive Journalism Cymru. The rest comes from crowdfunding, donations, syndication and editorial partnerships outside our owned platforms.

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. It sits alongside our Impact Report, which details how we've reinvested in our mission and the LGBTQIA+ community.

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.

QueerAF Impact Report 2026: Everything we’ve done to invest in our community this year

Everything QueerAF’s done to invest in our community this year (as a small but mighty non-profit publisher)

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