Yeah for Spring! Welcome to our September issue.

Although Australians are split down the middle about who should be running the country, I think I can safely say that most of us are not very happy with our politicians in general. As I write this it is still undecided who will be our next Prime Minster. It will probably all come down to a few hundred votes, and who will negotiate with whom and on what. Personally I don’t have a lot of faith in politicians being able to work together with the country’s best intentions at heart — but hey, I’d love them to show me otherwise. Maybe then we can have real action on the environment, full marriage equality… and then perhaps the development of flying courier monkeys! I really can’t tell you what’s more likely, but  I think winged monkeys are in with a good chance.

I could go on, but if you’re like me you are probably a bit tired of politics by now. If you do want just a little bit more however, Brooklyn Hulands has a few comments of his own in The Trap — something about upper houses, lower houses and dog houses. p08.

The world is full of a lot of trash and the best stuff always comes from the US — you know it’s true. Well this month, FUSE writer Carmen Sarjeant goes straight for the jugular on the new Showtime hit The Real L Word — reality TV for lesbians that follows ‘real’ lesbians just being ‘themselves’. Scary stuff, but makes for TV you just can’t drag yourself away from, even thought you know you should. p16.

We’ve got the start of what’s possibly an awkward conversation with your partner. What’s monogamy and what’s cheating? Once upon a time this may have been an easy question, but with the huge popularity of online social networking and the rise of Second Life and Grindr, the lines are blurred and things have become much more complicated. p18.

Two of our writers were off overseas last month — lucky them. Chad, our grooming guru, reports back from America with the latest summer styles and trends — and what he thought about New York city boys. p32. Scott Malcolm, our finance expert and ACT AIDS Action Council President, went the other direction to Vienna to attend the 2010 World AIDS Conference. He comes back with feelings of both triumph and despair in the long battle with HIV/AIDS across the globe. p20.

Lastly I’d like to talk about another important feature article we have in FUSE this month. Depression and youth suicide has risen to crisis proportions over the past twenty years and has become a particular problem for GLBTI teenagers. The fact is being young and same sex attracted, bisexual, transgender or intersex just adds another layer to an already difficult time. Feelings of isolation and discrimination can be overwhelming for kids growing up in an increasingly complicated and not always supportive world. So if you are a teen or a parent this article may help if you’re struggling with these issues. p28.

It’s a mixed bag, enjoy and grow. Alex