A parade entrant sums up what Pride means to him
Featured image by Heather Buckley via Flickr.
Critical voices were drowned out by cheers, whistles and the odd vuvuzela horn on Saturday, as Brighton Pride’s first year as a ticketed event saw tens of thousands of people pay for admission to the city’s Preston Park.
Excited crowds lined the parade route, which wound along the seafront under bright blue skies, before continuing up through the city centre towards the park. At the end of what had been a challenging week for many, the overwhelming mood was one of celebration and defiance. One woman carried a placard reading ‘Let’s Rave, Not Riot’, while some of the loudest cheers were saved for LGBT groups from the emergency services.
Preston Park itself was surrounded by a 15-foot-high fence, manned by a small army of staff and volunteers. The decision to fence the park had caused controversy in the months prior to the event, with some claiming the organisers were ‘pricing out’ Brighton’s LGBT community from their local Pride. Registered charity Pride in Brighton & Hove hit back at criticisms, saying concerns around overcrowding meant the park had to be fenced, with the introduction of entrance fees an inevitable consequence.
If festival-goers were unhappy at having to pay the £12.50 admission charge, however, there was no evidence of this inside the ring of steel. Despite a slow start, the park soon filled up with a diverse mix of revellers, who took advantage of the continuous sunshine to dance, enjoy drinks, or just sit on the grass with friends. Crowds packed out the 8,000-capacity dance tent throughout the afternoon, while the live stage – a new addition for 2011 – saw high-energy performances from X Factor winners Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry.
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Judith Manson, Festival Director for Pride in Brighton & Hove, said, ‘Initial feedback from all partners has been extremely positive. We are thrilled with the crowd that attended Preston Park – who created a fantastic atmosphere at what has been one of the safest and most enjoyable Pride events to date.’
Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: ‘The Pride festivities in Brighton & Hove have shown the country and the rest of the world how a community can come together in a spirit of tolerance to celebrate diversity. The fencing of the park was always going to be controversial, but it delivered a happy and, probably, the safest environment ever for the party.’
As an outcome of their ticketing strategy, Pride in Brighton & Hove have previously said they hope to pass on at least £40,000 of the money raised to local charities and community groups.
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