WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK ISSUE FIFTY-SEVEN 09/11 £FREE New York The Big Apple for beginners Parent power The Alternative Families Show Help! I can’t keep a boyfriend Joe McElderry THE COMEBACK KID INSIDE BRIGHTON PRIDE... AL PILLAY... THE EUROPEAN DIVERSITY AWARDS OUT IN THE CITY SEPTEMBER 2011 THE TEAM Hudson’s Editor DAVID HUDSON Letter [email protected] +44 (0)20 7258 1943 Design Concept Boutique Marketing www.boutiquemarketing.co.uk Graphic Designer Ryan Beal Sub Editor Dave Marshall Contributors Lynda Clark, Anthony 16 Gordon, Nick Levine, John O‘Ceallaigh, George Prior, Steven Sparling, Soren Stauffer-Kruse, Richard Tonks, Dr Andy Williams, Josh Winning CONTENTS Since 2006, it has been a criminal offence to Photographer knowingly infect a sexual partner – who was 06 LETTERS Chris Jepson unaware of your HIV status – with the virus. I am Send your Publishers aware that many sexual health charities are strongly correspondence to Sarah Garrett opposed to the criminalization of HIV transmission. editorial@outmag. Linda Riley Among other things, they argue that both parties co.uk must take responsibility for their health. I too firmly Head of Advertising believe that we all have a responsibility to take care 08 MY LONDON Rob Harkavy [email protected] of our own health and to take necessary Cabaret legend Al + 44 (0)20-7258 1777 precautions. As awkward as it can sometimes feel, Pillay gives us his if you’re not sure of someone’s status and would capital highlights Head of Business prefer to know, you can always ask them directly. Development Then again, what if someone lies? What if 10 SHOPPING Lyndsey Porter you’re in what you believe to be a committed The new Hard To 20 [email protected] relationship with someone you thought you could Find compilation + 44 (0)20-7258 1777 26 MUSIC 58 OUTNEWS trust and they falsely tell you that they’re HIV and Sony Walkman David Guetta, Björk, All the gay news Advertising Manager negative, and you then decide to have unsafe sex, headphones Ladytron and from home and Dan Goodban based on this false information. Is it realistic to Melanie C reviewed abroad [email protected] expect people to assume that their partner might 16 JOE +44 (0)20 7258 1777 be lying? McELDERRY 30 FILM 60 FAMILY ISDN: 1473-6039 I think in any case where someone has The X Factor winner Tomboy, This year’s maliciously decided to pass on the HIV virus, there talks exclusively to Melancholia and Alternative Families is an argument for criminal prosecution, but I also Out In The City Friends With Show, the London Front cover photo recognise that proving ‘malicious intent’ is almost about his career and Benefi ts reviewed... Sperm Bank and the © Simon Fowler impossible. It’s a very difficult issue. new album Classics British Surrogacy I thought about this again when I read – with 34 THEATRE Agency horror – a recent story of a man who was sentenced 20 BRIGHTON Ghost reviewed and to 14 months in prison for giving his girlfriend the PRIDE theatre news 72 CAREERS genital herpes virus. When she realised she’d caught The whole day in The Diversity the disease, she confronted him and he denied he’d pictures 36 FOOD Careers Show and ever had herpes, but she later found out this wasn’t Quo Vadis reviewed working at banking true and contacted the police. He pleaded guilty to 25 DIARY giant Société the charge of grievous bodily harm and was August’s cultural 39 OUT THERE Générale sentenced at Northampton Crown Court in mid- highlights and arts XXL’s birthday and August. listings, plus Pride other scene 78 PROPERTY Square Peg Media Ltd. 37 Ivor Place Grievous bodily harm for passing on herpes? The London highlights for Beautiful beds and London NW1 6EA infection, although recurring, is not a life- September, plus other products for Phone +44 (0)20 7258 1777 Fax +44 (0)20 7258 1787 threatening disease. Yes, the accused was wrong to coverage of A your home deny having the infection, but like many workers in Madonna Odyssey, The content of this publication, either in whole or in part may not the sexual health fi eld, I can’t help but feel the Shinky Shonky and 84 TRAVEL be reproduced, stored in a data retrieval system or transmitted in any punishment was way out of proportion to the Wild Fruit New York, and the form or by any means, electronic or perceived ‘crime’. Herpes can only be transmitted Bears On Ice festival otherwise, without prior permission from the publishers. Opinions when someone with the infection displays 56 OUTREACH expressed in Out In The City are not neccessarily those of the publishers. symptoms, and these are sometimes very subtle Reading Pride, plus 93 BODY AND © Square Peg Media Ltd 2000 - 2009. and difficult to notice. This sentencing makes for a the Opening Doors SOUL Square Peg Media Ltd t/a Out In worrying development in the policing of sexual service for older Agony uncle, The City magazine will not take any responsibility for any loss/claim disease transmission. LGBT people grooming and Body resulting from a transaction with one [email protected] Talk of our advertisers/ Media Partners. 30 WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK 5 READERS’ LETTERS: SEPTEMBER 2011 FEEDBACK SEND YOUR PRAISE, RANTS OR COMMENTS TO [email protected] - ALL LETTERS PRINTED WIN A PRIZE… celebrate in Soho, but Soho Square is clearly far too small to handle the many people that wish to pass through its gates. And does Gay Pride have to be synonymous with excess? I see Tesco was running a ‘family area’ in St Anne’s Gardens, but if I had kids, Soho on Gay Pride day is the last place I’d want to take them – there SPOONING were just too many people. I don’t know what the answer is, but if there I love the new look Out In The City, were other areas of London that and I was thrilled to see you interview Pride-goers could go to after the Casey Spooner [OITC – August 2011] parade, it might take some of the and stick him on the front cover. I’ve pressure off Soho. loved Casey’s work ever since Craig, WC1 Fischerspooner first emerged, and it was great to read such a candid interview with such an out and proud star. His recent solo album was greatly overlooked. The only thing you forgot to ask was when he’ll next be 56 Dean Street performing in the UK! Roy, Stockwell LETTER OF THE MONTH GET TESTED INKED I was very moved by the guy who wrote to your agony uncle saying Hi, I’m a tattooist in London. I worked he was too scared to get an HIV test. I too was scared for many for 13 years in the Yumbo Centre in years to get tested, but I felt moved to do so when one of my Gran Canaria. I am not a gay man but friends fell ill and died very rapidly after contracting pneumonia. feel that I have been accepted into It turns out that he was HIV positive –probably for quite some the gay community as a trusted time – and hadn’t known. I was horrified how quickly he went tattooist. With tattooing being so from being healthy to being unwell, and then – to the shock of PACKED PRIDE popular within the gay community, everyone who knew him – dying. Like other people of my age, I your tattoo and tattooist say a lot didn’t actually think that people died of HIV any more, but I now During Pride London I went to Soho, about who you are, so perhaps in know this is not true. People do still die of HIV – particularly if and I have to say it didn’t make me your listings you could mention gay- they don’t get tested and allow the virus to multiply and cause very proud. The whole area was a friendly tattoo and body-piercing damage within their body. mess. I’m sure the local pubs did shops in and around London? I get tested at 56 Dean Street in Soho. They do a finger-prick test great business out of the day, but Lee, Ink’d Tattoo, London and give you an almost instant result. Yes, taking yourself to the seeing so many people clearly off clinic can seem like a drag, but knowing your status is so much their tits, rolling around in the better than living in ignorance. Thankfully, I found out that I am pavement, throwing rubbish Anyone who had a negative. I have friends who are positive, some of whom have been everywhere, or just uncomfortably letter printed this for many years. Although living with HIV can be difficult, and squeezed into doorways, was pretty month won a copy nobody wants a positive diagnosis, my friends tell me they are unpleasant. Is this what Gay Pride of new DVD Meet definitely glad they know their status and are now receiving has become? I know the organisers of Monica Velour appropriate medication. Pride can’t be held responsible for the Anonymous vast thousands who wish to go and Anyone who has a letter published in the October issue of Out In The City will win a copy of new DVD WRITE TO Over The Edge – a sexy new gay-themed thriller that’s just been released by TLA Releasing. US AND WIN The writer of October’s Star Latter will win a copy of Over The Edge and the Girl Trilogy box set – a new A DVD..