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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 4, 2005)
march12005 “It first came out of not being able to be together,” says Nehra, a free-lance artist who leads art workshops for at-risk kids in London. “We created a virtual space just for us.” The first comic strip features a lovelorn character named SpykeGrrl calling up her sweetheart, Misster Scratch, across “the pond” from the United States. “I miss ya, dude,” says SpykeGrrl. “I know, I know, jam tart," replies Misster Scratch. The comic is full of quirky British turns of phrase as well as naughty gender-bending fun. Misster Scratch asserts (as does the real-life Nehra) that she identifies as genderqueer, not as lesbian. “The comic gives us a voice, power, recogni tion and a creative outlet for our frustrations about unjust national laws,” says Nehra, “as well as a way for us to be together in some way: by being our creation, living our relationship in comic form.” One of the complexities for both the real and comic book versions of SpykeGrrl and Misster Scratch is that they do not want to get married. They support marriage rights for same- sex couples, but even if they were able to legal ly marry they would not want to be required to do so in order to live together. And even if they wanted to and could get married, there is still the question of what box would Nehra check, male or female? As a genderqueer, she says, neither fits. “Basically our situation is far too ginger beer,” concludes the comic character Misster Scratch. A glossary alongside the strip tells readers that “gingerbeer = queer.” Her solution? “Let’s escape this dowdy prosaic realm and experience some 2-D comic(al) antics...where there’s more than an ounze of Peace, Awareness and Rocket Shaped Love!” sor her for citizenship.” (See related story on Page 26.) “There is no way for a U.S. citizen to sponsor her same-sex partner from the U.K,” says Victoria Nielson, legal director at Immigration Equality. A bill before Congress could change all this. The Permanent Partners Immigration Act would add the term “permanent partners" to the Immigration and Nationality Act so that U.S. citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration. U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., intro duced the bill in 2000, and a Senate version hough initially invented just for them- followed three years later. The legislation will • selves, the comic made its public debut in be reintroduced to the new Congress this year, The Pink Pauper, a spoof of London’s well- but it is unclear when—or if—it w ill pass. known gay publication The Pink Paper. Pauper In the meantime, despite the recognition of features a full-color ad for “Assets Independent same-sex marriage in some states, binational cou Insurance Advisers” with ples are still at the the tagline “Your oppression mercy of federal law, “ Sometimes I feel like my life is our profit.” Pauper cham says Nielson. “Even if and our life is sorta surreal. pions queer voices and chal a couple is married in We miss that whole daily life lenges the notion that all Massachusetts, if the thing.” same-sex couples desire Massachusetts resident marriage. applies for legal per -Haren uSpil<e” Spondike As with the Pauper, manent residency for Nehra says, the point of the _ her same-sex spouse, comic is: “I don’t necessarily [Immigration Services] want to be like a heterosexual would deny the application and cite the Defense couple.” of Marriage Act.” But she and Spondike would Not that Spondike and Nehra are consider like some of the rights and advantages ing a move to Boston. A more hopeful option heterosexuals have when it comes to immi for our “qweer” heroines would be for Spondike gration options. According to the Human to move to the United Kingdom, which at least Rights Campaign, because same-sex relatio- recognizes same-sex domestic partners. ships are not recognized under U.S. law, “Laws are a lot more pro-homo in the U.K. binational gay and lesbian couples are than the U.S.,” says Spondike. “Scratch and I often forced to live apart or in would have to live together for two years and fear of deportation. prove cohabitation to the British Council The book Why through bills, rental paperwork, etc. After our You Should Ciive a two years...we can apply for the visa. It Damn About (Jay approved, I would be able to stay in the U.K. Marriage describes on that visa and would be able to work legally a scenario in as well. We would still have to cohabitate for which a U.S. another two years, and once again prove it. woman travels overseas After that, I would be able to apply for another and falls in love. “If she’s visa to stay in the U.K. for a longer periixl of heterosexual, she’ll have to time. fill out some paperwork,” writes Spondike says queer couples have to jump Davina Kotulski, but ultimately through more htxips than their straight coun she’ll be able to have her terparts. While heterosexual binational couples beloved join her in the United have to prove two years of cohabitation in the States. United Kingdom after their marriage, they do Not so for gays and lesbians, not have the same restriction on cohabitation the author adds. “If she’s a les prior to the non-U.K. partner taking up resi bian, her partner will have to dence in the United Kingdom. apply for a work visa, and Spondike notes that it is “very difficult for they’ll both have to keep pray someone who is not living in another country ing it will be renewed or that due to schixil or employment because a U.S. some nice employer will spon- citizen can only stay in the U.K. for a maximum of six months at a time. And a U.K. citizen can stay in the U.S. for only three months max!” SpykeGrrl and Misster Scratch: Our heroines’ official site, where you can read all the According to U.K. attorney Owen Davies, who has been called “the immigration lawyer’s episodes of their comic, www.spykeandscratch.com. Love Sees No Borders: A site dedicated to disseminating information about the injustices immigration lawyer,” the strain on gay and les suffered by queer U.S. citizens and their foreign-born partners, www.loveseesnoborders.org. bian binational couples can be huge. He has helped several same-sex couples with immigra Immigration Equality: A coalition of immigrants, attorneys and other activists addressing tion, but he says they do not always need an the widespread impact of discriminatory immigration laws on the lives of those in the sexual attorney if their case is fairly simple. minorities community and immigrants who are living with HIV/AIDS. Formerly known as the Davies says the United Kingdom recently Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force, www lgirtf.org. tixik a “big forward step” by passing a civil reg Queeruption: An international site “where alternative/ radical/disenfranchised queers can istration bill that provides domestic partnership exchange information, network, organize, inspire and be inspired, self-represent, challenge recognition to «s.ne-sex couples. By the end of ourselves and each other, and learn about DIY ideas and ethics." www.queeruption.org. hesouhces the year, he explains, couples like Nehra and Spondike could register in advance of cohabita tion. “Sort of like a fiancee.” Advances aside, Davies says the United Kingdom is becoming stricter with its immigra tion policies. “Immigration is a tit-for-tat indus try.” As U.S. border controls get tighter, the United Kingdom and other countries follow suit. “Now it’s far more difficult for a U.S. citi zen to come to the U.K.” i I there does this leave our heroines? That is exactly what readers of their comics are asking. The last episode left the question open, with Misster Scratch and SpykeGrrl traveling through outer space and landing in a strange city. “Where are we now?” asks SpykeGrrl. “I wonder,” answers Misster Scratch. “Well, it’s awfully grey and I think I can hear pigeons. We must be in London!” “London?” SpykeGrrl wonders. “Past? Present? Comic? Real Life?” “Well, let’s open the rory and have a butchers,” says Misster Scratch. The glossary on the margin indicates that “rory = dixir” and “butchers = look.” “Then let’s find a mb-a-dub |pub] where we can get some grub [fixxl] and tiddly wink {drink), we could do with some Tommy tucker [supper].” The next panel asks in a Star Wars-like typeface: “Are SpykeGrrl and Misster Scratch in Lindon? If so, are rhe tubes still running or will the need to get a night bus? Which realm are they in?” The next episode is due out this month; kxik for it at In Other Words Women’s Bcxiks and Resources. Readers in other towns and countries—SpykeGrrl and Misster Scratch have fans everywhere from Berlin to San Francisco—can find all the episodes online. “Sometimes 1 feel like my life and our life is sorta surreal,” admits Spondike, sporting her striped sport socks hiked up to the knee, which she claims give her super powers. “We miss that whole daily life thing.” Nehra, whose super-power-inducing r<Kket tattoo peeks out from her shirt sleeve, concurs. What’s hardest, she says, is “missing out on all the little stuff.” “SpykeGrrl and Misster Scratch live out a relationship that we cannot yet [have] and are struggling for," she says. “In a way SpykeGrrl and Misster Scratch are more real [because] they exist together, always.” JH is a Portland free-lame unter. Visit her ¡mime at u>wu’. megdaly.com. M eg D aly