Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Brighton will celebrate Pride at a special service at the Brighthelm Centre at 6 p.m. on 27 July
Being a community celebration, the proceedings will be kept as secular as possible. At the beginning of the service there will be a procession of Gay flags (Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Bi, Pan, Bears, Leather etc) and Aneesa Chaudrey, musical director of the Rainbow Chorus, will be joining the celebration along with performances from The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus and Actually Gay Women’s chorus.
Rev Michael Hydes, Pastor of the MCC Church, said: “There will be a communion right at the end of the service but folks are more than welcome to leave, or see the event as a community celebration rather than a religious sacrament – a community sharing and blessing rather than a Christian celebration of the Eucharist.”
Three non-religious homilies will be given, by Rev Michael Hydes from MCC and community leaders, in celebration of the LGBT community.
Lunch Positive and Vineyard Church will be supplying refreshments and sandwiches. The Terrence Higgins Trust will be staffing a table where they give out condom packs and advice on safer sex and HIV testing.
Any money raised from the event will be donated to the Rainbow Fund, which makes grants to LGBT/HIV organisations delivering front line services to the LGBT community in Brighton and Hove.
There is no cost to attend. The event will start at 6 p.m. and you’re welcome to arrive any time after 4 p.m. Proceedings will finish around 7 p.m. and will be followed with an hour when folks can get to know each other and do some networking.
What: A Service to celebrate Brighton Pride
Where: Brighthelm Centre, North Rd, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1YD
When: Sunday 27 July
Time: 6 p.m. Doors open 4 p.m.
Cost: Free event. Donations to the Rainbow Fund.