Gay London Life | May '26 Edition - Magazine - Page 2
In the
know
AIDS
Memorial
Moves
Forward in London
Planning permission has been
approved for London’s first
dedicated AIDS memorial, set
for Fitzrovia. Created by Anya
Breaking the
Silence on
Chemsex
Gallaccio, the design centres on a
New research from Grindr
reflection, remembrance and
and You Are Loved reveals
community. Led by AIDS Memory
a stark reality, with one
UK, the project honours those lost
in five LGBTQ+ people
to HIV/AIDS while recognising its
expecting to lose someone
ongoing impact today.
felled tree, with its rings displayed
upright to create a space for
to a drug-related death. More than a quarter say they’ve had sex while using
Backed by funding from Sadiq
drugs in the past year, yet stigma still dominates, and most of the wider public
Khan, this milestone clears the way for
don’t even recognise the term chemsex.
the next phase, including fundraising
Now, a new series, Out in the Open, is aiming to shift that. Led by voices
including Gareth Thomas, alongside people with lived experience, it opens
to bring the memorial to life.
Supporters are now invited to
up honest conversations around drug use, mental health and shame, while
get behind the project and help
pointing people towards support.
make it a reality. You can pledge
If you’ve been affected, or just want to understand more, watch the series
via Grindr’s platforms and explore support at: www.youareloved.org.uk
Co-Founders
Steve Gregory
steve@gaylondonlife.co.uk
Chris Colman
chris@gaylondonlife.co.uk
Editorial Contributors
Jason Reid, Taofique Folarin,
Nathaniel Hall, Helen Scott,
Topher Taylor, Adam Williams,
Thomas Magill & Alexis Blake
team@gaylondonlife.co.uk
your support via the JustGiving
page: www.justgiving.com/
charity/aidsmemoryuk
Remembering Oliver Mohns
The European queer nightlife scene has lost one of its
Design & Photography
Janne Öijer,
Nicolas Chinardet
& Richard Holland
team@gaylondonlife.co.uk
own. Oliver Mohns, a long-standing club promoter and
the force behind countless nights that brought people
together, has passed away after a battle with leukaemia.
For many, Oliver wasn’t just a promoter. He was a
Fire at Pink Punters Hits Home
News of a fire at the club, as we
connector, someone who built spaces where people
went to print, has hit hard across the
felt free, seen, and part of something bigger. From
community, with significant damage
London to across Europe, his work helped shape
reported to a space that’s long been
dancefloors, friendships, and communities that still
part of our shared story.
carry his energy.
Emergency services attended the
In recent months, Oliver had been undergoing intensive treatment,
scene in Milton Keynes, and police
including chemotherapy. Those closest to him stayed by his side
have confirmed a suspect has now
throughout, holding onto hope and sharing messages, music, and love until
been arrested in connection with the
the very end.
incident. Investigations are ongoing.
His partner Gary, who worked alongside him for over a decade, shared the
For so many of us, Pink Punters isn’t
heartbreak of losing not just a collaborator, but his person. Their life together, and
just a venue, it’s where friendships
the life they built through their work, touched more people than can be counted.
started, nights turned into mornings,
What stands out in every tribute is the same thing, Oliver’s ability to bring
and people found their place. To see it
people together. To create joy. To make people feel like they belonged.
impacted like this feels personal.
That kind of impact doesn’t disappear. It lives on in every dancefloor he
We’re sending our love and support
helped build, every friendship sparked under his watch, and every moment
to the entire Pink Punters team and
of connection he made possible.
everyone affected. We’ll be with you
Oliver, you’ll be missed, remembered, and celebrated.
2
when the doors open again.
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