Meet Scott
Living Life and Building a Community
One of the things that I love is meeting new people and learning about their life. In doing these interviews I have been fortunate to meet some really amazing people doing some really amazing things, and Scott is one of those people.
Scott (aka Pup Pocket), can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I just turned 35 and I am about to embark on my 4th AIDS/LifeCycle ride in June with my team, Pedal Pups. I’ve been living in San Francisco for the last 5 years (also lived here during college). I like to stay involved with the leather/kink community out here in the SoMa neighborhood of San Francisco. You can often find me at Powerhouse, Eagle SF and Mr. S-Leather with fellow Pedal Pups in toe. Half of my year always involves training on my bike with my team and throwing a monthly fundraiser at Powerhouse called WUHfff (pronounced like the Trixie & Kataya Show).
I married my husband Gunner two and a half years ago. We met when I was still living in LA and was just visiting San Francisco for New Years 2014. There was a spark and we decided one month later to do a long distance relationship. Eight months after that we had an apartment together in San Francisco. Two years later we were married. Gunner has really helped me find my true identity and celebrate everything I wanted to be.
You are currently raising money for the AIDS/Life Cycle cycling event happening in June. Can you tell us a little more about that and how did you get involved with AIDS/LifeCycle?
AIDS/LifeCycle is a 7 day, 545-mile cycling event from San Francisco to LA that raises money for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center. There are about 2,500 cyclists and 500 roadies that raise about $16.1 million for these foundations. The funds that are raised provide free HIV/AIDS medical care, testing, and prevention services. We also raise awareness to end the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. It is also an opportunity to honor those we have lost to HIV and AIDS in our community.
I first learned about the AIDS/LifeCycle when a friend of mine Sergio Paz joined the ride at the beginning of the decade. I thought it was such a cool event and my first involvement was just volunteering at the finish line 2 years in a row. Cut to me meeting my husband, who was also a rider in the LifeCycle a couple of years later. My husband got me to sign up and got me my first bike since childhood. He taught me how to fundraise and we started doing fundraisers together. Learning that you are capable of raising $10,000 and riding 545 miles for 7 days is a very fulfilling experience. Hence my involvement in the last 4 years.
How can people get involved in Aid/Life Cycle?
You can start signing up for the next AIDS/LifeCycle in June via aidslifecycle.org. You can sign up to be a cyclist, virtual cyclist, or roadie. The cyclist must raise a minimum of $3,000 and you’ll be surprised just how easy that is to accomplish. There are a lot of people in your life who have been affected by HIV/AIDS through family and friends that you don’t even know about.
A virtual cyclist is someone who wants to fundraise for the cause but will not actually attend the event. Roadies help with gear, medical, massage, rest stops and much much more. Roadies are basically the heart of the ride. They keep the riders motivated and entertained! There is no fundraising minimum for the last two.
You are also involved with Pedal Pups, can you tell us a little about what that is and maybe educate those of us who aren’t familiar with the whole pup community?
Gunner and I were at the park with our buddy Ace just after Ace and I’s first ride. Ace said he was interested in starting a team of pups for the next ride called the Pedal Pups. Gunner and I lit up and said let’s do it! That was really the big jumping point. For the first two years, it was just 10 really close friends and we became a pack. Our pack is a family. That is what pup culture is all about to me, family. I see these guys every week. We party together, we fundraise together, we train together and we often have sex together.
After the first two rides as a team Gunner took over as the Alpha of the Pedal Pups and collared new pups to join the pack. We have now grown to 20 members. Pedal Pups focus on fundraising a total of $100,000 for the AIDS/LifeCycle. We have a monthly party at Powerhouse every third Friday on the month called WUHfff (see #1). We are known for our lube wrestling party, Pup Auction and Boat Tram Fundraiser. Proceeds from our events go to our fundraising efforts. Our pack is also sponsored by Mr. S-Leather, Powerhouse and Visceral Therapy, whose funds help us get our team kits for the ride and supplies for our fundraisers.
There are many different aspects to being a pup. I can only to speak to what being a pup is for me. It is a chosen family. It’s about being part of a sex-positive community. It’s also an inclusive community. Pedal Pups welcome all to our events.
What are you passionate about Scott?
After the Pedal Pups, I’m passionate about presenting sex positivity. There is so much sex shaming still rampant in our community alone. I enjoy sex. It’s one of my favorite things to do. I have sex with friends and new people all the time. I find it a great way to get to know someone. I’m also very proud to be a bottom and will gladly go on and on about it. I also enjoy voyeurism. I get off on the fact that other people I don’t even know are getting off by watching my sexuality.
And I’m responsible about it. I am on PrEP and get tested every 3 months or less.
What is next on the horizon for Scott?
I just finished my CA Real Estate course and hope to have my license in the next few months. But it does look like I may need to start that all over in Oregon. As much as I love San Francisco and California it’s time to think about our future. Gunner and I want a home someday with a yard and we need to start saving money to make that happen. We have been looking into moving to Portland later this year. Gunner’s family is from Portland and since we’ve been together I have been loving Portland every time we visit and I also love his family and our niece and nephew. My bio pup Castro is also a senior dog now and I would love for him to enjoy his last years running around the yard. I’m excited to make a bunch of new friends in Portland…if you know what I mean.
Scott thank you so much for your time. If you want to donate to Scott’s team and support the 4th AIDS/LifeCycle ride his donation link is tofighthiv.org/goto/pocket and if you want to check out the Pedal Pups webpage it is pedalpups.com.
Scott, I wish you success on your ride and your fundraiser and an early, “welcome to Portland.”
