Brighton Pride festival finally back after pandemic
Brighton’s Preston Park was filled with rainbows and glitter, as thousands of people joined the party to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Brighton & Hove Pride.
The festivity saw a crowd of around 400,000 people coming together loud and proud on the streets or Brighton and inside the park to celebrate We Are Fabuloso.
Read more: Yahoo is the headline sponsor of this year’s Brighton & Hove Pride festival
Brighton & Hove celebrated its first Pride march back in 1973, but it wasn’t until 1991 that Pride came back – and since then, it’s become an annual event in Brighton.
From Britney Spears and the Pet Shop Boys to Dua Lipa and Kylie Minogue, Brighton & Hove Pride has seen incredible world-class artists take over the main stage to celebrate and show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
And after a two-year hiatus thanks to the pandemic, this year promises to be just as unforgettable, with the legendary pop-star Christina Aguilera headlining the main stage, as well as over 100 LGBTQ+ artists performing across eight other stages.
Whilst hundreds headed over to the Yahoo stand to strut their stuff on the catwalk, crowds flocked to the many stages, singing and dancing their hearts out.
Festival-goers travelled from near and far to join in on the fun at Brighton Pride.
Mother and daughter duo Catherine and Gabriella, who made their way from Dorking, Surrey, couldn’t contain their excitement for the fashion at Pride.
“Everyone looks so beautiful and sparkly, and this is the ultimate day to get dressed up. The weather is perfect and we’re having so much fun,” said Catherine.
Read more: The History of Brighton & Hove Pride
Also, among the crowds celebrating Brighton & Hove Pride were Lorne Thomas and Daryl Richards, who travelled all the way from Cardiff for the weekend celebrations.
They both agreed that Brighton & Hove Pride was the “best Pride [they’ve] ever been to.”
Richards told us quite how much the festival means to him.
“I was so emotional when I came here because it makes me so proud to be who I am. The most amazing part of Pride is that everyone comes together – whether you’re gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender – whatever you choose to be,” he said.
“It’s great to see everyone come together to celebrate. I think this is how we should be every day.”
Read more: Brighton & Hove Pride: Meet Darren Suarez whose dancers are joining the Yahoo stage
With the mission to campaign, fundraise and celebrate, the event – which is supported by Yahoo as the headline sponsor – is a chance to have fun and dress up, but also raise vital donations for LGBTQ+ charities.
This year’s ticket sales and sponsorship will help to raise money for The Brighton Rainbow Fund (BRF), a central hub for LGBTQ+ community fundraising in Brighton and Hove.
BRF distributes grants to Brighton’s local LGBTQ+ projects, all with a common aim to make a tangible difference to the lives of hundreds of people within the LGBTQ+ community, with a special focus on those living with HIV.
Watch: Author and campaigner Damian Barr on why we still need Pride
