» Party with purpose
Brighton Pride is the party of the year, for everyone
If you’re new in town, and have yet to experience the full thrust of an expected 150,000 people of every sexuality, race and age making their way through the city to Preston Park for the biggest free festival in Europe, then you might be in for a bit of a shock.
“The biggest event of the festival is the fabulous parade on Saturday 2 August, with dozens of floats proving that this is a city that knows how to party“
Brighton Pride is now as set in the calendar as Christmas and New Year and it’s inspiring to think that it all started as a modest event on the Level in 1992, organised by a group of community activists called Pink Parasol.
Although financially unviable because most business interests had not yet seen the potential of a local Pride festival, this event showed what could be achieved and set the standard for later years. The organisers of Brighton Pride ’95 were the first to attract major sponsorship and bring on board the pubs, clubs and drag artists. After that the event went from strength to strength with Pride 2000 and 2001 reporting 60,000 visitors. These days there are eight days of summer events from Saturday 26 July to Sunday 3 August 2008, plus a special Pride winter festival in February.
The parade and party in Preston Park on Saturday 2 August is expected to attract people from Brighton, Sussex, the UK and beyond – reflected in this year’s theme Pride Around the World. Pride is not only good news for the city’s economy, bringing in an estimated £7.5million last year to hotels, shops, bars and tourist attractions. It also brings people together and is attended by the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, the city’s MPs and many other dignitaries. The festival, which is driven by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, is attended by many straight residents and their families who are proud to live in a city that celebrates diversity and embraces difference.
This year is special for Pride as it is the first festival overseen by new director Lesley Burn, who is working hard to maintain strong community links and make sure the Pride message is remembered all year round. It is also the largest Pride festival so far. There are hundreds of fundraising events taking place in the coming weeks not only in pubs and clubs, but in churches, schools, community centres, theatres, restaurants and even an ice cream parlour – Scoop and Crumb in East Street is selling a Pride-themed ice cream. Whether you’re more at home shaking your stuff on a busy dance floor or listening to Baroque music by queer composers, there’s something for you.
The biggest event of the festival is the fabulous parade on Saturday 2 August, with dozens of floats proving that this is a city that knows how to party – all in the name of a good cause.
Afterwards everyone flocks to Preston Park where you will find family entertainment; stalls; cabaret and music performance; bars; a fun fair and the oh so very popular and famous Wild Fruit dance tent; Women’s Performance Tent and Revenge Cabaret Tent.
Not everyone knows that Pride also gives thousands of pounds in grants every year to community groups working with the LGBT community. So donating money to the charity behind the festival not only helps them to throw the biggest free party of the year, it also supports small charities and organisations which rely on Pride to survive. The festival also spreads a powerful and positive message about the strength of community in our city. Images of Pride festival in Brighton are beamed all around the world.
This year for the first time there is an official one day Pride conference which will hold workshops, lectures and discussions to debate the meaning of Pride. The conference, called Feelings of Pride, takes place on Friday 1 August. Email k.a.browne@brighton.ac.uk Find out the latest news about Pride events at www.brightonpride.org or pick up a Pride brochure in outlets all across the city. If you want to support Pride, send cheques payable to Pride (South East) Ltd to 6 Bartholomews, Brighton, BN1 1HG.
Enjoy the party!
