Direct-to-consumer brand For Them, which sells gender-affirming chest binder compression tops, acquired LGBTQ+ publication Autostraddle in a move meant to deepen its ties to the LGBTQ+ community. The all-equity deal, announced today, bolsters For Them’s media operation, which already includes a burgeoning podcast network with shows such as “He's Copy,” a program hosted by New York City comedians, writers and performers Gara Lonning and Natalya Samee.
The publication will be renamed Autostraddle by For Them. Specific financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Also read: LGBTQ+ representation in ads is severely lacking
In addition to the binders, which are meant to compress an individual's chest in accordance with their gender identity, For Them, founded in 2021, also sells a subscription-based membership from $6 to $15 per month. The membership includes access to a gender tracking app that helps users track “real time gender evolution using daily mood and identity check-ins,” per its website, discounts on all For Them products and events and the ability to connect with other members, among other perks.
Autostraddle sells subscriptions for between $4 and $50 a month, giving members access to premium content. It currently has about 7,000 subscribers, according to Kylo Freeman, CEO and founder of For Them. Under the new deal with For Them, subscribers to either company will get the benefits of both brands’ subscriptions. Autostraddle was having financial troubles as of July, which led to budget and staffing cuts, according to the Defector.