Familiar's internet future

Hi,

OK, so this wasn't the message or project I wanted to do this month, but here we are.

First, before you TLDR: The perks and distribution of chapters/pages/content on this Patreon are not currently in any danger of changing. If you don't care about the public website or public chapters, then you don't need to keep reading. Your perks and everything will remain exactly as they are (at least into the foreseeable future).

I will also be uploading the chapters that aren't already on Patreon over the coming days so Patrons have direct access to them through their Patreon account. Sorry in advance for the notifications.

But for the rest:

The host I use for Familiar is HostGator, and they happen to be based in Texas. Texas' age verification mandate goes into effect September 1st. Essentially, this (these - there are a few that are already in effect) is a mandate that requires any website that is more than two thirds "content harmful to minors" (yes, the definition is vague and problematic, but Familiar does qualify under the definition in the bills, as do activities involving "bizarre costumes" .... ) to verify the ages of ALL VISITORS VIA GOVERNMENT-ISSUED ID.

You can read more about these bills here: https://action.freespeechcoalition.com/

Basically, they want me to card people to visit the site. For MANY REASONS, I can't do this. I can't afford to hire an age verification service and even if I could, I cannot reasonably ask people (internationally!!!) to digitize and upload their govermnent-issued IDs insecurely on the internet just to read a sex comic.

Originally I was hoping to avoid having to make any changes so soon because neither I nor the webhost are located in any states with these mandates. However ... Texas.

So, after exploring many options including censoring the comic pages on the website, going fully behind a paywall, and other avenues, I have decided to move the public-facing pages of Familiar to Drunk Duck/the Duck webcomics website, which is a free site that hosts comics of all kinds - primarily (=way more than two thirds, lol) SFW. However, they do allow erotica/adult content, and in order to view it you must create an account. The account creation process is minimal and requires miminal information (username, email address, date of birth). (I am also working with them on adding more inclusive gender options in the gender drop-down.)

This was not my vision for Familiar, but unfortunately, in order to protect myself, for right now this is how it's going to have to be. The good news is the comic will still be free to read and uncensored. I also hope to upload the first 7 plot chapters to a French site that will not require a login, so that people who want to read a bit of it without signing up on DD can.

If these mandates are overturned or dismantled, I will be glad to restore the Familiar site and public facing chapters.

I will be making a public statement and providing links and information on the Familiar website when this change occurs later this month. However, I promised transparency and wanted to let you all know ahead of these changes.

I welcome any questions and comments.

Soushiyo