Soho

[JudithH]

Another "gay" thread sorry.

DS16 wants to start going with his BF to Soho. Gay friends and work colleagues have always given me the impression that its very full-on and promiscuous. DS1 is pretty sensible. He does seem to know about sex and risks but I don't think he's streetwise enough for Soho yet.

And the last train from London is before midnight so if he misses it he's stuck.

It just seems that every day I find I know less and less about the world he's going to be exploring. Instinct says to trust him, that he's never given me any reason not to.

And maybe my gay friends have exaggerated everything.

I don't know. He seems to be growing up far too quickly now.

I wouldn't want him up there at night (tbh I wouldn't want a 16 year old child of mine anywhere in Central London late at night) but I don't think there's anything wrong with going in the day.

When I was 16 I dated a girl and we went up to town and had a picnic in Soho Square and just... hung out. I work around the corner now over a decade later and it's not quite so thrilling, but at that age you just want to escape your own town and have a bit of an adventure, everything is super exciting! Plus - I don't know where you're from, but if it's anywhere like where I was from! - it was really exciting to be able to PDA in public, which I was never going to do in my hometown without getting abuse yelled at me.

So I'd be fine with the Soho thing, but I wouldn't want him there late. Besides, the clubs and bars are shit-hot on ID, so he won't be able to get in anywhere anyway. And anywhere that will let him in is going to be dodgy as !

He's got 2 years until he's 18. I'd make him wait, save yourself the worry. Personally I think he's too young to go out at night in soho.

Ok OK I got the wrong end of the stick. He has clarified what he wants.

He isn't talking about going there at night but at exploring it during the day. He is also going along to a local LGBT youth group and may tag along with them. The group is one we both found online for him and seems credible.

I may take a trip to London on the same day, keeping out of his way of course.

I can't see what is wrong with a 16 year old being in Central London during the day at all. Maybe because we live in London and don't spot the dangers but my DD15 has been going on her own anywhere in London from the age 11 and all her friends have done the same. The moment they start secondary school they travel on the Tube alone and are allowed to meet in town for shopping eating etc. They go to Covent Garden, Camden Soho anywhere. She is usually home by 8. I personally think it is great that they are so independent and mange to find their way in such large city.

I think it'd be fine during the day OP, speaking as a straight woman who used to accompany gay male friends on nights out there. There are all sorts of clubs etc, not all very risqué, most check ID anyway so he'd not get in. The bigger thing is that it can be very crowded so he'll need to have his wits about him.