THE AIDS SWISH

Stewart Who? explains how he plans to raise awareness of World AIDS Day – a colourful parade through Soho, the heart of London’s vibrant gay scene…

World AIDS Day? Just the mention of it and there’s a palpable collapse which punches my body and soul. Those three words resurrect the buried ex-boyfriends, mates and their recurring health problems and 25 years of nerve-shredding HIV tests.

Throw in the pornification of bareback culture and a recent media story which implied that fish pedicures are akin to swallowing cum…and it’s hardly surprising that World AIDS Day inspires depression rather than fireworks.

Never mind the African babies, there’s enough AIDS in my yard to keep me busy for a lifetime.
When asked by the London AIDS Memorial Campaign to manage an event on World AIDS Day, I felt strongly that we should change the dynamic.

A morbid procession or candle-lit trudge seems so ‘80s and quite frankly, if it doesn’t appeal to me, how can I expect others to attend.

The idea is simple; as a community, we should dress up like we mean to party, then SWISH down Old Compton Street like people who enjoy and respect life. The AIDS Swish is an affirmation- we’re here and we care, not just about ourselves but each other.

That sentiment is worth putting out there, with bells on, whatever your status.

Somewhere along the line, a tenuous sense of community morphed into a spirit which seems to shrug, ‘fuck you, fuck off, let’s get fucked’. It’s hard not to kick and push when fighting to get on a rush-hour tube and a self-induced coma via chemicals can seem preferable to a sober assessment of one’s life.

You’ve got gonorrhoea? Fuck it, go the sauna and pay it forward. Other people’s sexual health ain’t your stuff, right? Fine. We get it. You’re angry. Tired. Us too. Who isn’t? The AIDS Swish is just 30 minutes or so of showing up, showing out and loving yourself, so you can love others.

Swishers will be encouraged to carry glo-sticks, rather than candles, a UV nod to those in club culture we‘ve lost and who’re immersed in it now. Wanna don drag, S&M couture or a red ribbon ra-ra skirt? Bring it. Hopefully, the AIDS Swish will be fun and provocative, engaging all corners of the Google map and inspire people to smile, remember and yes, dance.

The AIDS Swish is about pride, street theatre, activism with a fun streak, visual stimulation, community engagement and last, but not least, the spirit of disco.

The FIRST ANNUAL AIDS SWISH will start at 6pm at the junction of Moor Street and Old Compton Street (Ed’s Diner) to promote World AIDS Day and the London AIDS Memorial Campaign. The Swish also signals the start of all the events occurring in the bars for Soho Red Thursday.

We’ll *swish* along Old Compton Street to the junction of Wardour Street, into St Anne’s Church Soho, where the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence will perform a non-religious ceremony of recognition.

The SWISH is not a fund raising event and not connected to any charity. Many charities will be collecting on that day.

It’s simply a way of raising awareness that as yet, London has no permanent AIDS Memorial, where people can gather at any time, from any country, for any reason of remembrance. The London AIDS Memorial Campaign aim to hold the SWISH as an annual event until a permanent space is achieved.

So, drop the hard face, girlfriend, come and SWISH on World AIDS Day? Strut, swagger, shimmy, roller skate, stride, mince or dash in drag? We don’t care. We just want you to be there.
The London AIDS Memorial. We owe it to them.

 

• Join the Swish! World AIDS Day Thursday 1st December: assemble at the junction of Moor Street and Old Compton Street. Swishing starts at 6pm prompt (a ceremony will follow at St Anne’s Church Yard).

• Soho Red Thursday is an event run the gay Venues of Soho to raise both awareness of World Aids day and raise funds for The Food chain

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