Kickstarter Policy
I’ve given some thought to Kickstarter’s recent policy change to adult artworks. I’m furious over it, for two main reasons:
1) The payment processor, Stripe, is the one pushing this censorship. Kickstarter is a private company, they’re free to allow or disallow any content they like. But banking? That’s a utility. This is like the electric company cutting power to a doctor providing healthcare they disagree with.
2) This is treating comics like second class citizens. Again. You can walk into a Barnes & Noble right now, and pick up a romance novel with graphic adult content. Maybe even an urban fantasy about sexy werewolves. No one bats an eye at this. Your grandma read this stuff.
But comics? Suddenly it’s a pearl-clutching moral panic.
As for what’s next, I’m looking into options for another crowdfunding platform. Someone will fill the void. I absolutely adore Patreon, and their commitment to artist’s rights. I hope they can add crowdfunding content.
Comments (9)
The good news: Kickstarter has rolled back its new content guidelines and gone back to the previous iteration. The bad news: Said previous iteration still prohibits hardcore NSFW content.
Did you see the new post, they are rolling back some of the changes to the rules on kickstarter due to the backlash https://updates.kickstarter.com/an-apology-rethinking-our-mature-content-guidelines/ don't know if you can ask for a re-evaluation for the suspended, or if they would want you to do a new campaign, still don't know why your page got hit and not some others considering I saw other adult comics still up even after the policy change
Have you checked with Backerkit (https://www.backerkit.com/)?
They look like my top choice right now, I appreciate the clarity of their policy.
Comics get the short end because people are more concerned about what we SEE, rather than what we READ. Also, people only feel comfortable about comics when they put it into the same box as cartoons; a box makes "for kids". They're never taken seriously.😤
I know of two other crowdfunding sites: 1. Indiegogo - started shortly after Kickstarter, so another long-time site. 2. BackerKit - they had been focused on managing fulfillment for Kickstarter, but have recently expanded into competition with Kickstarter as well.
Orwellian at its worst. If expression is limited, then freedom is an illusion. Forcing morality is anathema of an enlightened society.
I'm glad you guys made a statement about this, thank you for speaking out. These censorship moves from payment processors are just another arm of the wave of anti-sex puritanism that's been affecting everything from internet purchases to impressionable young kids. Because of that adult comic makers like your team, particularly those who make queer comics, end up being laser targeted. It's unfair and unreasonable, and I wish your team the best of luck with finding a better platform to work with.
Well, people were so transphobic and homophobic that they started teaming up with religious control freaks thinking that they were going to only ban LGQBT+ stuff but they always forgets they NEVER stop there.