owned by Tommy Hom aka TigerTom TigerTomNYC
The Backroom was created in 1980 as a publication and computer services company. by Artie Kohn. He passed away in 1991/92.
Conversations about LBTQIA rights is fundamentally sex ed (and the ability to have open free dialogue around these topics and providing safe opportunities at local gay bars to socialize) changed many lives.
The Backroom was home to a number of writers, activists and activists and advocates – and of course, horny geeks. . Many were not out of the closet – choosing nicknames similar to the people used CB radios in the height of trucking and early days of computing.
The demographic skewed gay white, a bit more affluent and educated. Folks needed a computer and modem to access the text driven service. Later on there was a focus on women entering tech and coming online. (There is advertising and personal stories around to support the attempt.
The Backroom was interconnected to other systems via Gaycom and Studsnet (long gone) with a few sysops still around.
Many members have gone over the decades – a number are memorialized in the Names Project.
Artie Kohn will be remembered as a leader and a great friend .
The Backroom is currently part of a trio of sites including The Renegades and GlobalPride. Where next? Unknown.
Tommy Hom
All intellectual Property copyright Tommy Hom aka TigerTom -TigerTomNYC
TOSS, Inc. which operated The Backroom will be back soon.