WHEN YOU SWISH UPON A STAR!

Last week’s World AIDS Day ‘SWISH’ was a resounding success, as hundreds of people gathered to shake what their momma’s gave ‘em in a celebration of life and in remembrance of those we have lost. Organiser and founder Stewart Who? recounts his experience of the day.

9am: SE1. Wake up, gingerly open curtains, dreading bad weather. The sun’s shining. Hurrah! God loves the gays, trannies and most importantly the AIDS Swish.

1pm: SE1. Phone David ‘Madge’ Parker who is ‘Ball Roller’ for the London AIDS Memorial Campaign and have meltdown at the prospect of having to be in several places at once, at 5pm. Glo sticks and helium balloons to be collected, sound checks done and a space has to be aquired for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to get their slap on. Stare out the window at the grey clouds rolling in.

2pm: SE1. Decide it might be worth trying to film the AIDS Swish, even if it adds another dimension to my nervous breakdown. Charge up digi-cam.

3pm: Outside Ku Bar. Have a Zen moment – the inspiration for the AIDS Swish was to raise awareness of the need for a permanent AIDS Memorial in London. Even if only 3 people turn up, it’s got people talking, so it’s already a success. For that beautiful, wise moment, I was serene and happy. Then it ended.

5pm: Lo Profile. Jonathan Hellyer – aka D.E. Experience – is in tights, rehearsing and quipping while Simon Le Vans and Quentin Nield wiggle wires and test microphones. It’s pouring with rain outside.

5:45: Old Compton Street– Jonathan is in full D.E. drag. I’m trying to keep the rain off her with a big brolly and maintain a shoulder of support as the street’s slippy and she’s in strappy heels. We’re a wobbling, dripping sight.

6pm: Ed’s Diner. A growing crowd swells and people brandish balloons, glo sticks, brollies and cameras. Jonathan commandeers a loud hailer and like a possessed Jane Fonda, leads a dance step up Old Compton Street. The crowd are not the Kids from Fame, but they try to keep up.

6:20pm: Wardour Street. Jonathan takes off heels and goes forth in wet stockings, leading people in the chant, “Remember, Respect and Represent”. It feels like a scene from a movie, perhaps set in the ‘70s, perhaps the future.

6:30pm: Lo Profile. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence conduct a blessing of the inaugural AIDS Swish and make the entire room get on their knees and instead of a minute silence, they fuel a minute of a noise. Everyone screams, whistles, cheers, whoops and squawks to remember those who aren’t with us!

6:45: Lo Profile. Jonathan Hellyer delivers a blistering set featuring about seven songs, interspersed with agit prop comedy, sincere sentiment and the usual wickedness. The crowd love it, including two elderly tourists who joined the SWISH despite having no idea who or what it was for!

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