Brighton & Hove Pride 2022 raised £300,000 for local LGBTQ charities
This annual Pride's funds will be distributed to local charities, community groups and projects.
Following a two-year hiatus, Brighton & Hove Pride returned in time for its 30th anniversary in August with a weekend of campaigning, protest, and celebration that raised over £300,000 for local charities.
Brighton & Hove Pride is renowned for its vibrant celebration and this year’s theme was ‘Love, Protest & Unity’ which featured performances from Christina Aguilera, Ella Henderson, and Todrick Hall.
“After 2 years of pandemic and lock-downs, the logistics of delivering a large scale event were even more challenging than usual with hurdles including increased costs for cleansing and security, availability of infrastructure etc,” Managing Director, Paul Kemp, said.
Kemp announced that this annual Pride celebration has raised £300,000 which will be distributed to local charities, community groups and projects through the Brighton Rainbow Fund, the Pride Social Impact Fund and Pride Cultural Development Fund.
Additionally, special grants through the Pride Solidarity Fund have already been “used to support the participation of Ukraine Pride in this year’s community parade.”
This year’s financial contribution has taken the total amount to £1,236,000 under the organisation in the last six years.
Chair of the Brighton Rainbow Fund, Chris Gull, echoed Kemp’s joy that the funds will aid “local LGBTQ+ and HIV projects.”
However, Gull also highlights that the purpose of the event is not only to raise funds, “but also reminds businesses and venues organising their own events in this period that they can make those events meaningful by raising funds, rather than just grabbing the opportunities that Brighton Pride brings to the city to make a profit without acknowledging the work and effort that it takes to make Pride happen at all.”
While the city is draped with rainbow flags an estimated £25.5million is brought into the city’s economy with visitors spending money on accommodation, retail, food and drink over the Pride weekend.
Gull concludes that the funds will make “a significant, and positive difference” to Brighton & Hove’s LGBTQ+ communities.