Navigating Identity, Advocacy & Success as a Queer Creator w/ Rae Threat

SWCEO Interviews Rae Threat

Blog Post Written By: MelRose Michaels

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What if showing up as your full self, fat, queer, disabled, nonbinary- was the activism? What if building a porn career meant centering community, not clout?

In a recent podcast conversation, MelRose Michaels sits down with Rae Threat, filmmaker, creator outreach lead at AP Clips, and long-time queer indie porn powerhouse, to talk about sustainability, visibility, and what success really looks like for marginalized creators in sex work today.

MelRose Michaels: Welcome back to On the Whorizon. I’m your host, MelRose Michaels, here to share what’s worked in building my adult creator business, and to make yours just a little bit easier.

Today, I’m joined by someone who’s been transforming this industry from the inside out for two decades. Rae Threat is a queer Thai-American artist, photographer, filmmaker, and community builder, and the current Head of Creator Outreach at AP Clips.

From the MySpace era to international film festivals, Rae has spent 20+ years pushing back on the industry's narrow definitions of beauty, value, and visibility. We’re getting into what it really means to build longevity through art, community, and radical self-acceptance.

MelRose Michaels: Rae, thank you so much for being here!

Rae Threat: Hi! I’m really glad to be here.

MelRose Michaels: Let’s start at the beginning. For those who aren’t familiar with you, can you share your journey into the adult industry?

Rae Threat: Sure. I’m Rae, photographer, producer, filmmaker. I started during the MySpace era. I was doing nightlife photography when I met Eon McKai from Vivid Alt, and he invited me to some of their parties. That’s where I first connected with performers.

When Twitter started, I posted asking if anyone wanted to do a real photo shoot, outside nightlife. Dana DeArmond was the first to respond, and that opened the door. The second person I ever shot was Jiz Lee, who introduced me to queer porn and the broader queer space. That early experience really shaped everything. I've been in and out of the industry ever since.

MelRose Michaels: You’ve now been in this space for 20 years. What originally drew you in, and what’s kept you here?

Rae Threat: The community, honestly. The people I met early on are still in my life. I’m in Berlin right now with Jiz Lee, and we’re on panels together. We have a film screening.

Beyond community, I really believe porn is activism. That’s part of what’s kept me grounded in this work.

MelRose Michaels: I love that. It’s rare to find spaces as welcoming and layered as adult, especially for marginalized creators. You’ve worn a lot of hats over the years: artist, director, producer, photographer, organizer. How has that shaped how you see the industry?

Rae Threat: It gave me a lot of perspective. I see how the entire ecosystem functions, from performers and production to platforms. That’s made me value ethics and collaboration just as much as aesthetics. It’s not just about what looks good. It’s about how we take care of each other and keep this sustainable.

MelRose Michaels: Speaking of sustainability, you’re now doing creator support and outreach at AP Clips. What does a day in that role look like?

Rae Threat: It’s a mix of creative support, problem-solving, and community-building. I connect creators with technical help, answer platform questions, and introduce them to AP Clips when I think it’s a good fit. I advocate for creators trying to get better payout percentages on indie platforms.

MelRose Michaels: And AP Clips is one of the few indie platforms left. That kind of outreach feels crucial right now.

Rae Threat: It’s super guerrilla. But we prioritize transparency. We’re not owned by a mega-corp. We listen. We take feature suggestions seriously and implement them fast. We want creators to feel like they have control.

MelRose Michaels: You’ve also spoken openly about fat visibility, body diversity, and how existing as a queer, fat, or disabled person in this space is itself radical. Why is that?

Rae Threat: Because porn still markets a narrow Western European beauty standard. Fat, queer, disabled bodies challenge what’s considered “sellable.” Just existing authentically is political, especially right now, when trans and queer rights are under attack.

Porn is a cultural mirror. And if we want that mirror to reflect reality, we have to show up. Representation in adult changes how people see themselves. That’s real impact.

MelRose Michaels: You’ve said confidence and self-worth can be outcomes of representation, not prerequisites for entering this space. That reframes so much.

Rae Threat: Exactly. You’re not supposed to walk into rooms where you’ve never seen yourself and just magically feel confident. You build confidence by being seen. Even just showing up as the only fat, brown, queer person in a room matters. It makes space for others to follow.

MelRose Michaels: So true. And sometimes that means being tokenized. How do you navigate that tension?

Rae Threat: It’s real. But if I’m not in the room, will there be anyone like me at all? I’d rather be the one who shows up, even if it’s complicated. You can be tokenized and still set boundaries.

MelRose Michaels: What does meaningful representation look like to you?

Rae Threat: It’s content that doesn’t need to label itself. It’s porn that’s queer, fat, or Black without needing to tag itself as “special.” It’s just normal. But I get that people search by labels too, so it’s this weird balance. Meaningful representation normalizes marginalized identities instead of othering them.

MelRose Michaels: And that constant advocacy can be exhausting. How do you avoid burnout while still pushing for change?

Rae Threat: Community. Talking it out. Taking breaks. Reminding yourself you’re not responsible for fixing everything. Sometimes just existing authentically is enough. You don’t always have to be “on.”

MelRose Michaels: Let’s talk about indie platforms. What do they offer that mainstream giants like OnlyFans can’t?

Rae Threat: Control. Flexibility. Transparency. You can actually talk to a real person. If you suggest a feature on AP Clips, there’s a good chance we’ll implement it that week. There’s no corporate red tape. And we let creators link to other sites, control their pricing, and keep 70–80% of payouts. That autonomy matters.

MelRose Michaels: You’ve also been deeply involved in Sunday Fair. What is that space about?

Rae Threat: Sunday Fair is a grassroots space for adult creators, founded by Casey Warner. No hierarchy. No pressure to network. Just community. We have hangouts, Wellness Days with yoga and sound baths, and a party called Aether. It’s a rare space where creators can just be human without being “on.”

MelRose Michaels: What makes that different from other industry events?

Rae Threat: Intentionality. Mutual support. There’s no clout-chasing. Everyone involved genuinely wants to be useful to each other. It’s built by and for creators, which changes the energy entirely.

MelRose Michaels: I’ve heard you describe adult content as art. How does your background in visual art and film show up in your sex work lens?

Rae Threat: I treat every frame like a portrait. I ask: what makes this image powerful? How can we tell a story? When I shoot, I want people to look at it and go, “Wait, that’s porn?” That’s what I aim for: indie, art-house eroticism. But I also get that sometimes a grainy phone video sells better. It’s a balance.

MelRose Michaels: How do you advise creators to find that balance between artistry and what sells?

Rae Threat: Do what’s comfortable. Start slow. Be authentic. Your audience knows when something feels forced. You can’t fake chemistry or confidence. And not everything has to be a cinematic masterpiece. Simple can be powerful, too.

MelRose Michaels: For creators who feel lost in trends or like they’ve lost their voice, what’s your advice?

Rae Threat: Don’t overthink it. Create what feels right to you. You don’t have to chase every trend. You don’t have to fit anyone else’s mold. The people who connect with you for real will stick around.

MelRose Michaels: You’ve said that representation can literally save lives. Can you expand on that?

Rae Threat: Absolutely. I’ve had people tell me that seeing queer or trans porn helped them feel like they belonged in the world. It stopped them from giving up.

Representation isn’t just a political buzzword. Sometimes it’s the thing that keeps someone alive. That’s why I keep showing up.

MelRose Michaels: And that’s what I hope creators take from this. That building longevity in this space isn’t about chasing algorithms. It’s about community. Art. Purpose. And being yourself, even when the space wasn’t built for you. Rae, thank you so much for sharing your brilliance.

Rae Threat: Thank you. And if anyone wants to connect, I’m @RaeThreat on socials. For creator support, you can also reach out at @APCreatorTeam or follow @RealAPClips.

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Some parts of the above interview have been condensed or edited for clarity. For the full interview, listen to the entire podcast episode here

P.S. If you’re building a brand that doesn’t fit the mainstream mold, you don’t have to do it alone. Join the CEO Society, our free private community for adult creators navigating growth, burnout, identity, and business on their own terms.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the interview are those of the guest speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SexWorkCEO or MelRose Michaels. Anything said or written is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone else.