PREVIEW: With Love From Brighton @The Old Courtroom

New group plans event to support LGBTQ organisation in USA.

AS Brighton gears up to celebrate Pride, a new group called With Love From Brighton is planning an event to raise funds and awareness for Parkersburg Pride, a grassroots LGBTQ organisation in Parkersburg, West Virginia, USA, that formed after the local city council voted down protections for LGBTQ people in employment and housing.

Scott Roedersheimer, a member of With Love From Brighton who is originally from Parkersburg, said: “Imagine being sacked from your job or prevented from renting a flat simply because of your sexual orientation or gender identity. Now imagine that your local councillors voted against a law that would have protected you from discrimination like this. This is happening in the States in 2019 and we wanted to do something positive to shine a light on the situation and express solidarity with our friends and allies in Parkersburg.”

In addition to Scott, the members of the group are Anke Thurm, Anna Roscher, Cat Souter, Chris Smith and Stefan Holmström.

Anna, who works locally as an LGBT Youth Support Worker, said: “When a fellow LGBTQ community hurts, we hurt too. What we’re aiming to do is show Parkersburg Pride that they have been heard, they have been seen and that, despite the miles that separate us, we stand in solidarity with them.”

Despite the adversity it has faced, Parkersburg Pride is pulling the community together and has staged two extremely successful PRIDEfest events.

With Love From Brighton plans to donate all profits from its event, Outspoken: Celebrating Parkersburg Pride, in October to Parkersburg Pride so that it can continue to run future events free of charge for everyone in the community.

Jeanne Peters, Parkersburg Pride board member, said: “The support from Brighton is incredibly meaningful to us. To know that folks in the UK are watching our struggle and supporting our community’s growth is uplifting. It gives me hope to know that we are truly part of a global community. I want everyone organising and attending the upcoming event to know how very deeply we appreciate you and the love and support you are sending from overseas.”

Join With Love From Brighton on Saturday, October 12, 2019 for ‘Outspoken: Celebrating Parkersburg Pride’ from 7:30 pm at The Old Courtroom, 118 Church Street, Brighton BN1 1UD.

The evening will feature Appalachian ballads from award-winning folk singers Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds, music from top Brighton choirs Resound and Rebelles and a screening of Emily Harger’s brand new short film Outspoken which tells the story of Parkersburg Pride and gives insight into what it’s like to be LGBTQ in rural America.

There will be a cash bar and additional donations will be gratefully accepted on the night.