With under a month to go, Brighton & Hove City Council has announced it is excited to welcome back Brighton & Hove Pride and celebrate the “diversity, joy and unity of the city’s LGBTQ+ communities”.
Taking place over the weekend of Saturday, 3 and Sunday, 4 August, Brighton & Hove Pride – the main fundraiser for the Brighton Rainbow Fund – is one of the city’s biggest and brightest events, bringing together thousands of residents and visitors to celebrate and take part in the festivities as well as enjoy the incomparable atmosphere in the city.
The theme of this year’s Pride, We LOVE Because They Can’t, is a reminder that as well as being a celebration, Pride is a protest and an opportunity to shed light on injustices, mobilise support, and advocate for change.
This year’s city-wide campaign aims to raise awareness about the oppressive laws in countries that prohibit their LGBTQ+ citizens from enjoying the fundamental freedoms and rights that many of us take for granted.
The main day of the city’s Pride celebrations is Saturday, 3 August, with the Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade progressing from Hove Lawns to Preston Park.
The parade showcases more than 100 local charities, emergency services, the NHS, community groups, small businesses, and representatives of other Pride organisations. This year it aims to encapsulate joy, celebrating life, spirit and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities.
Pride’s official fundraiser for the Brighton Rainbow Fund, the vibrant FABULOSO festival in Preston Park and the Pride Village Party in St James’s Street take place on both Saturday 3 and Sunday, 4 August.
For anyone unfamiliar with Brighton & Hove Pride, it’s on a huge scale and takes over much of the city centre for the weekend. As always, the council is anticipating it will be a very busy time.
Visit the Brighton & Hove Pride website for full detail of what’s planned and explore the handy map of events and route of the parade.
Roads will be closed in the city centre on Saturday for the community parade and for the Pride Village Party on Saturday and Sunday.
Buses will be rerouted and, if you’re travelling by train, please do plan ahead to get here and home again.
More travel advice can be found on Pride’s dedicated travel webpage, Govia Thameslink Railway’s Brighton & Hove Pride update and the website of Brighton & Hove Buses.
Brighton & Hove City Council will be publishing full information on road closures in the lead up to the weekend.
Councillor Leslie Pumm, Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities and Human Rights, said: “We are once again very excited to work alongside Pride organisers and our emergency services to deliver a colourful and safe weekend of Pride celebrations.
“As well as Pride celebrations in August, we are looking forward to supporting Trans Pride later this month, setting a wonderful tradition in our city for their eleventh year.
“Pride is a love letter to all our fabulous and treasured LGBTQ+ and ally communities, residents and visitors who come to join us every year.
“It’s a celebration of joy, unity and compassion that has become absolutely integral to our city’s DNA, but it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the immense inequality and persecution that LGBTQ+ people still face.
“Brighton & Hove is the LGBTQ+ capital of the UK – that’s who are and who we are proud to be.
“By joining in one of the biggest and brightest Pride celebrations, we are sending a message that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, needs to be able to live and love freely and authentically.”
Paul Kemp, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Pride, said: “I’m proud of our city and the way people join in solidarity and joy with the LGBTQ+ community on the first weekend of August.
“The Pride Community Parade starts Pride with a noisy, happy and boisterous procession that brings thousands of people out to crowd the route rain or shine. I’d like to thank all in our community and our allies for celebrating with us at Pride.
“This year’s Brighton & Hove Pride campaign, We Love Because They Can’t, raises awareness about oppressive laws around the world that stop LGBTQ+ people from enjoying the fundamental freedoms and rights that many of us take for granted.
“This summer, as we celebrate our diverse communities, we shall continue to press for a world where everyone can live freely and safely, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
“Pride has always been a mix of protest and celebration – Brighton & Hove Pride has a proud mix of both driven by all that is good about our LGBTQ+ communities.”
Tickets HERE
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