The organisers of the UK’s biggest Pride today announced that this year’s 30th anniversary event, due to be held on August 1-2 and starring Mariah Carey and The Pussycat Dolls, has been called off in light of the continuing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The decision was “not taken lightly” and Pride managing director Paul Kemp said it had been “a heartbreaking decision that has been taken following the fast moving Covid-19 pandemic”. He added: “We know that when the time is right people will want to come together to celebrate our community, city and the amazing NHS, emergency services and key workers.”
Tickets already bought for this year’s events will be honoured in 2021 although the organisers have appealed to holders to donate their ticket “to support Pride going forward and its essential community fundraising”. As a thank you, they will have priority purchasing options in next year’s pre-release ticket sale, with further details available on the Pride website.
The Brighton Rainbow Fund, which distributes community-raised funds from Pride and others events – including the also-postponed Brighton Bear Weekend – backed the call, saying: “On behalf of the projects we support, and the people they support, we are asking ticket holders to consider the option of not claiming a refund, in effect making a donation to allow them to continue their valuable work for another year.
“For those who hadn’t bought tickets yet, and would like to contribute directly, there is a donate button on the Brighton Rainbow Fund website.”
Brighton & Hove Pride issued the following statement early this morning:
“It is with a heavy heart that Brighton & Hove Pride have taken the difficult decision to postpone our landmark 30thanniversary celebrations that were due to take place on 1st & 2nd August until 2021.
“We are shocked and devastated by the unprecedented turn of events over the past weeks – especially the catastrophic health and economic impacts this pandemic is having on members of our community.
“The decision to postpone has not been taken lightly and with many events still planning to go ahead in July and August we were hoping to wait until closer to the time to avoid disappointing our volunteers, community groups and the public.
“But after carefully monitoring the rapidly evolving Covid-19 pandemic and evaluating the ongoing risks and uncertainty, as well as the additional pressure any large event puts on the emergency services, we have taken the very difficult decision to postpone this year’s Pride FABULOSO Anniversary celebration.
“As the UK’s biggest Pride Festival that attracts visitors from across the UK and globe, and with the potential of travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines to remain in place for an unknown length of time, we cannot in good faith risk the health and safety of our communities, volunteers and participants and proceed with an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city.
“We are currently in contact with artists who were due to perform this year with regard to rescheduling the dates for next year and will update further as soon as possible.
“Existing tickets holders do not need to do anything – their tickets will be honoured and rolled over to the rescheduled event.
“These are exceptional times and many local charities and community organisations rely on Pride for fundraising to get them through the year. We are appealing to ticket holders to donate their ticket to support Pride going forward and it’s essential community fundraising.
“We are devastated to have had to make this decision and as a small team we’d like to thank customers for their patience as we work through the ongoing challenges at this time.
“We know, when the time is right, it will be even more important for people to come back together and celebrate our communities and City.”
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