Brighton Pride digital festival raises thousands for LGBTQ causes and reaches half a million worldwide
Organisers say the three-day virtual event reached more than half a million people worldwide.
By Will Stroude
Brighton Pride 2020 may not have looked quite how we envisioned six months ago, and while we’ll have to wait a little longer for Mariah Carey’s Pride debut, the digital festival that took place over the weekend has reached the event’s biggest audience ever. Silver lining’s, eh?
The three-day We Are FABULOSO festival, which saw performances from over 100 artists including Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Jess Glynne, Billy Porter, Todrick Hall and Carly Rae Jepsen, reached an audience of more than half a million people worldwide, organisers have revealed.
Not only that, but donations to the Brighton Rainbow Fund, which supports local LGBTQ and HIV charities around Brighton & Hove, had exceeded £13,000 by Sunday – a figure that is only set to increase as viewers re-watch all three nights of queer politics and entertainment on YouTube.
Paul Kemp, managing director of Brighton Pride CIC said: “A huge thank you to everyone who tuned in over the weekend.
“Brighton & Hove Pride has always been time to come together to celebrate and embrace diversity and inclusion in our great city, and just because we were not able to meet in person doesn’t mean we can’t support and celebrate our fantastic LGBTQ+ communities.
“Looking forward seeing you all back in Brighton in 2021.”
Chris Gull, Chair of The Brighton Rainbow Fund said: “Those watching over the weekend will be joined by thousands on catch up via you tube over the next days and weeks.
“We have a simple request: this is all free, you will all see world class entertainment, you will all see why the funds raised which we distribute to LGBTQ+ and HIV groups are vital, especially this year.
“Think what you spend on Netflix, or on tickets to a concert, or drinks and food over Pride weekends, and donate… please go the extra mile this year by donating.”
If you’d like to donate and help support LGBTQ organisations and communities in Brighton & Hove you can do so here.