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