Page 10 of Nearly Roadkill: Queer Love on the Run
Subject: re Scratch and Winc Website?
Hey Kiddo,
In answer to your questions: yes, sure there were websites back in the period you’re researching.
And of course I remember all the hoopla surrounding Scratch and Winc.
As far as I know they never had a website that I can remember; nothing I can find using all the magical wizarding tools at my disposal here at Apple.
Websites were really hard to build back then. You had to use HTML only.
BUT—good news—my search for a website dredged up the attached chat room log from a very early Gay Pride meeting. Hope it’s helpful.
You know, I’m so proud of you for tackling this story. And you also know I have to ask, are they paying you enough for this? Still got your night job at the bakery?
Love,
Dad
To: T. Sparrow
From: Drew
Subject: re re Scratch and Winc Website?
Well damn the dead end on a possible website of theirs but wow the gay pride chatlog you found is SO HELPFUL. I’m totally using it.
And it’s perfect that the queers in that room can see how dangerous the tech would be for them, including the backlash. I needed that perspective.
Oh and jackpot! The Luvboyz and DigQueer in this chat were aliases of Scratch and Winc!
Thanks, Dad!
love you big,
Your kid Drew
PS—yup, I’m still baking the finest on-demand caricature cookies in the city. Sigh. But hey, we’re making some pretty chic dog biscuits as well. I’ll bring you some for Monstro.
Chat room log: “Gay Pride meeting”
Minutes: The Coalition
Topic: Registration
Attendees: 104
Participants principally concerned with how Registration impacts solidarity. Majority in agreement that the Reg process serves to divide us.
Many are refusing to answer sex pref. cuz then aren’t we telling everyone in the whole wide world that we are gay?!?!?
Some bisexual attendees objecting to either/or choice homo/hetero.
Many confused as to whether to list spouse for Significant Other, etc.
Miss Doris Fish as usual objects to either/or choice male/female.
Digqueer: Cooperation = Death!
Tom: That’s Silence, you turkey! This is really about do we list our partners in the spouse box, and do we ask them before we do?
Sharina: Point is, do we make our stand right here, right now by just saying no to the whole fucking form? Or do we infiltrate, work from the inside by Registering along with everyone else?
Digqueer: Maybe some of us could do one, and some of us could do the other?
Tom: Fuck no, all or none.
Dick: All of us have to sign, or none of us do.
Harry: One for all, all for one. Solidarity above all.
David: yknow, if we Register now we’re proving we’re just like everyone else.
Sharina: Fuck that shit! We’re not like everyone else and proud of it!
Digqueer: God I am so sick of that phrase being used by queers.
David: It’s not an insult! We are so just like everyone else.
Private Message from Digqueer to Luvboyz
Digqueer: *No*body’s like anyone else. They act like they’re on the outside looking in.
Luvboyz: ::sadly:: True. What made you PM me?
Digqueer: Your name. At least you seem to be out of the closet.
Luvboyz: ::laughing:: Oh, that I am.
Vina: OK, OK, let’s table the issue of assimilation. Meanwhile, if anyone wants to go ahead and Register, do so, and let us know what happens to you at the next meeting.
Private Message from Digqueer to Luvboyz
Digqueer: Here we go again.
Luvboyz: Yup.
Digqueer: ::laughing:: splittin’ hairs.
Luvboyz: Yeah. Maybe it’s just a phase?
Digqueer: ::smile:: Let’s hope so.
Luvboyz: Maybe this is the only way we grow?
Digqueer: I’d rather see something else grow.
Luvboyz: ::blushing::
Digqueer: Oh how sweet!
Luvboyz: Not as sweet as you think. Wanna go private?
Digqueer: Sure. I have the feeling you’re not big and hard and hairy, and right now that sounds really good.
Luvboyz: You mean that’s your usual M.O.?
Digqueer: Yeah, gets boring sometimes.
Vina: The government is trying to legislate our lives.
Tom: They’re not fucking trying to legislate, they’re trying to organize! If we cooperate, we’ll be represented!
Dick: Yeah, we’ll have a voice in the government.
Harry: Yeah, cooperate!
Private Message from Luvboyz to Digqueer
Luvboyz: So you do this a lot?
Digqueer: When I can’t sleep, when I can’t get myself off. I can say I’ll try something new, but certain things are just tried and true.
Luvboyz: Yep. Right now just “hard” sounds good.
Digqueer: Hard, urgent, maybe a little sweaty.
Luvboyz: I wanna stand up with you, cup our cocks together in our hands.
Digqueer: Yeahhhhh. It’s warm, arms wrapped around each other’s waists.
Luvboyz: Fuck cooperation!
Brknstck: You guys and your foul mouths. Goddess!
Tom: ::rolling my eyes::
Private Message from Luvboyz to Digqueer
Luvboyz: My hair is long, I rub it all over your back.
Digqueer: Mmmmm. I bend over to feel you against me.
Luvboyz: I turn you around.
Luvboyz: Kiss you hard. Mmmm, your beard against mine feels great.
TOOBE ENTRY
Jabba found a memo from the cops!
Actually it’s the cop division of the Bureau of Census and Stats, called Internet Intelligence. Scratch sez that’s an oxymoron. That Scratch, har de har.
END TOOBE ENTRY
NARRATIVE ENTRY, JABBATHEHUT
The memo flashes up in front of his eyes. He hates the interruptions but obediently reads the voice from up on high.
To: All Staff, FBCS
From: Undersec’y LaBouchere
Subj: Registration Evaders
Registration window ends one week from today.
Reminder: All those not Registered must be within 24 hours of the window closing.
We want to send a message that our department is organized and efficient, and that we will enforce Registration as legally mandatory.
I know I can count on each of you to help set this nation straight.
Margaret LaBouchere
Undersec’y, FBCS
Lieutenant Detective Budge brings his seat back down hard, feet flying off the desk. What the hell are they thinking up there? Reg was supposed to be optional! And we can’t even track down parking violators; how the fuck do they think we’re gonna track computer users?
Reminder to self: get the wording of the law that makes Registration legally mandatory.
END JABBA NARRATIVE ENTRY
TOOBE ENTRY
I hacked their system! How cool am I!?
But ohfuckohfuck. I think I blew it. I mean, I scan police messages, but with Jabba’s toyz I can get a little further in. I think she likes me even though she calls me names in Yiddish. Wait, Jabba? Jewish? Concentrate, Toobe, concentrate.
Anyway. I was so excited, I mean, proof they’re gonna be real anal about catching people who didn’t comply. Proof! I download that sucker, and as soon as the download starts… BAM!
///799OFO9O9I///
I was too long in that area, and I think my screen name was spotted! If they ever play back activity in that area, my stupid name would be right there!
Okay, maybe they won’t play it back.
Why should they play back a day’s worth of cybermessages?
They won’t play it back.
So who do I call?
JJJJJJa-a-a-aba….
To: Jabbathehut
From: Toobe
Subj: Trouble
Answer me something please? If I was reading messages on a police bulletin board and I downloaded something, could they trace me?
—T.
To: Toobe
From: Jabbathehut
Subj: in River City
Absolutely. However, chances are they won’t because they have no reason to go over logs every day. As far as they know it’s a Bulletin Board Service for gendarmes only. (BBS, of course.)
Young one, permit me to remind you: do NOT go into their BBS anymore. Do NOT trigger screen capture by initiating downloads. Use the backdoor for all downloads. As I’ve taught you.
::muttering::
Fighting God, J
Well that didn’t make me sleep easier.
Just got another letter from Winc. Ze digs deep into this stuff.
To: Toobe
From: Winc
Subj: Curiouser and Curiouser
Hey, my friend, here’s an interesting log for your growing pile of trivia.
I’m sending you excerpts because it was an hour’s worth of chat, a lot of it goofy.
They offered me two choices. Sigh. I picked the name “Gyrl” ::sighing:: it was either that or “Boye.” (::standing on top of The Wall Between Two Choices:: Hmmm, looks more interesting from up here!)
Have fun!
—W.
8:02:56 P.M. “GUEST SPEAKER Transcript”
Now open for recording.
There are 17 people in the room.
Webster: Hey, gang, remember I invited someone this week? She’s going to talk about her experience as a phone sex hostess.
Lisa321: No duh, Webster, why do you think the whole group showed up?!
Webster: Hah! Writers Anon. has never had such attendance.
Gyrl has entered the room.
Gyrl: ::rushing into room, out of breath:: Phew! Howdy!
Webster: Had a flat on that old info highway, love?
Lisa321: “Gyrl?” I thought Webster was kidding.
Gyrl: It’s me name. ::glancing down:: And let’s not talk about flat here, OK? ::rueful grin::
Webster: LOL
Webster: *Good* to see you Gyrl.
Gyrl: ::purring:: Good to see you too, hon.
Genuine1: Gee, Webster, just how *did* you meet this Gyrl?
Gyrl: Ah, so we discover the first pitfall of writing, class. ::glasses slipping down nose:: The stereotype! ::glancing over at Webster, giggling::
Webster: While I have no problem with the possibility of having met Gyrl for phone sex, the truth is we ran into each other as blood drinkers in a vampire room.
Lisa321: There’s a chat room for vampires?
Webster: Yep!
Webster: OK, let’s start!
Webster: Welcome to GUEST SPEAKER. Our guest tonight is Gyrl. She’ll be taking questions relating to sex and gender in fiction, on the phone, and in life…
Lisa321: If you’re saying a man can be a female phone sex hostess, are you also saying a man can write a woman’s character?
Gyrl: Well, I think that “Man” and “Woman” are only two of many possible genders…
Pico: Wow.
Gyrl: … and gender is simply another facet of identity, like age, race, state of body, etc. So, why can’t a man write a woman’s character.
Gyrl: … If he does the work.
Gyrl: … Big if, I know.
Gyrl: … ::bracing myself for onslaught::