12 photos that capture the beauty of Brighton Pride in England
Mariah Carey was the headline act at this year's Brighton & Hove Pride
Mark
If you ever visit England, don’t forget to venture outside of the capital. An hour south of London by train, you hit the south coast and the city of Brighton.
Officially known as Brighton and Hove (they’re neighboring districts), this corner of East Sussex has long enjoyed a sizeable LGBTQ+ population. Its annual Pride festival, every first weekend of August, is one of the biggest, and most glittery, in the country.
This year’s event enjoyed great weather and another fantastic turnout. The parade itself took place along the seafront on Saturday (8/2). The theme? ‘Ravishing rage’!
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It was followed by a two-day festival in Preston Park that featured around 150 entertainment acts.
This included Will Young (a former winner of the reality TV show Pop Idol), Sister Sledge ft. Kathy Sledge, Bimini (Drag Race UK), Beth Ditto, Sonique, Ultra Naté and Andy Bell of Erasure.
The headliner on the Saturday evening was pop megastar Mariah Carey. She thrilled many in the audience by wearing a dress emblazoned with the pro-trans slogan, ‘Protect The Dolls’.
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Whether you’re seeking festivals, sweeping coastline panoramas, classic theaters or open-air foodie hotspots, Britain is the ideal landscape.
Keeping it inclusive
So popular was the event that there were some slow-moving queues for entry on the Saturday. Organizers reacted by making changes to ensure Sunday was much more smooth-flowing. They say around 300,000 attend the weekend’s many activities.
Away from the park, a smaller Pride Street Party took over Marine Parade in Kemp Town. It also featured entertainment stages for smaller acts and DJs. This offered a more affordable option for those who didn’t or couldn’t find the money for Preston Park (where tickets cost up to $90 if bought near the day of the event). The parade also remains free.
Organizers recently defended the ticket price for Preston Park to the BBC. They pointed out it’s impossible to put on such a massive event without charging for it and seeking corporate sponsorship.
They also highlighted the fact a portion of its profits go to the Brighton Rainbow Fund and Social Impact Fund. Over the past few years, it’s raised over £1.4 million ($1.9 million) for local, queer-focussed non-profits.
Check out more images from the weekend below.
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