B RIGHT ON Festival: Phil Starr Pavilion hosts LGBT History Month events

Today (February 1) is the start of LGBT History Month, an international month-long observance of our collective LGBT+ histories.

History month provides all LGBT+ people and their allies the opportunity to commemorate and remember the bravery of those who over the years campaigned and spoke out to help us achieve the freedoms and equality we enjoy today.

This year the City of Brighton and Hove celebrates LGBT+ History Month with more than 50 events staged in a purpose-built Pavilion on New Steine Gardens in the heart of Kemptown under the umbrella of the B RIGHT ON LGBT Festival.

The Pavilion, a fully equipped hi-tech theatre and heated community performance space, named after the legendary drag queen Phil Starr has been constructed over the last two days. It will be completed by noon today (Wednesday, February 1) when the box office will open to sell tickets for all events during the 17 day festival.

The opening fundraising show, Celebration!, on Friday February 3 celebrates 25 years of the Sussex Beacon, who are in danger of closing their doors in June due to NHS cutbacks.

Starring Lorraine Bowen the Crumble Song lady from Britain’s Got Talent, Miss Jason, Alan Jay, Dave Lynn, Davina Sparkle, Sally Vate, Kara Van Park and the legendary drag queen Maisie Trollette, now in the 83rd year of her reign and still performing regularly at venues in London and Brighton. Dancers from The Brighton Academy choreographed by Emma Green will open the show which is directed and staged by West End director and choreographer Carole Todd. Tickets at VIP tables cost £18/£15 conc and can be bought at Prowler, Nice n Naughty and the Sussex Beacon Charity Shop in St James Street. All artists are donating their time and proceeds from all tickets sales will go the Sussex Beacon.

The Festival has been organised, programmed and staged by the volunteer led, LGBT Community Safety Forum and is grant funded by Sussex Police, The Pride Social Impact Fund, The Rainbow Fund with officer time from Brighton & Hove City Council. The Festival aims to engage the city in the wide range of issues highlighted through the work of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum.

For the full lineup of events during the B RIGHT ON LGBT Festival, click here:

To book tickets for all events, click here:

Tickets for selected shows are also available at Prowler (01273 683680), Nice ’n’ Naughty (01273 626442) and the Sussex Beacon Charity Shop (01273 682992) on St James Street.

There will be a box office onsite at New Steine Gardens from noon on Wednesday, February 1 where you can purchase tickets for all shows during the 17 day festival.