What has Brighton got – that London doesn’t? “A beach!” I can hear the sarcastic cries above the squawking seagulls.
Apart from all of the usual suspects of a seaside town, I wonder what it really is that sees me, as well as thousands of other gay men, flock to the Sussex seaside throughout the year – come rain or shine.
It’s no secret, as written about in January’s Independent newspaper, I came to Brighton at one point in my life to end it all and because of many of its wonders and support groups – I didn’t go through with it. That night the seaside really did save my life.
The Brighton & Hove, LGBT Community Safety Forum, Brighton and Hove LGBT switchboard, and MindOut the LGBT mental health project supported me with advice despite knowing I wasn’t a resident of the city. Something my own home borough in London didn’t provide. That to me is testament to a wonderful place and I will always be thankful.
I’m not going to discredit the London scene entirely as there definitely were times, growing up, that it provided me with a safe environment to make friends, meet boyfriends and feel free and uninhibited.
The London scene has seen dramatic changes with the closures of some of its most iconic bars and clubs: my favourites being G.A.Y at Astoria, Escape and Madame Jojo’s, Brewer Street.
But Brighton, to me, is a prime example of somewhere that has a strong sense of LGBTQ community consisting of so much more than just its glittering nightlife.
My proof is in the pudding that I like to call “gay by day.” What is there for the LGBTQ community to do in the day? In Brighton there is an abundance of choice.
Am I proud to be a Londoner? Of course (although technically I’m from Surrey) but my post code has always been that of a London Borough.
I’ve been to Manchester Pride (even performed alongside Sam Fox on the main stage when it was host to Euro Pride 2003), I’ve enjoyed Birmingham Pride, celebrated Essex’s first Pride event, saw London’s transition from a ticketed pride event held on Clapham Common to today’s Trafalgar Square affair and even 2012’s World Pride day. But still my favourite has always been Brighton Pride.
I have always felt extremely safe in Brighton more so than London and my home town.
So if you haven’t been down there this year or haven’t booked your Pride ticket do it now and Brighton up your life!
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