Brighton Pride makes triumphant return as thousands celebrate love, protest and unity
More than 50,000 attended events on Saturday leading up to headliner Christina Aguilera.
Words: Attitude staff; pictures: Chris Jepson
After two years of not being able to gather in person, Brighton and Hove Pride returned for its 30th anniversary with rainbows and glitter galore.
With the prevailing themes of LOVE, PROTEST & UNITY, Brighton and Hove Pride made for a weekend packed full of campaigning, protest, and celebration.
Photo: Chris Jepson
With blue skies and sunshine, the highly anticipated Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade opened the weekend in colourful style.
Marching from Hove Lawns the parade wound through the city streets and showcased one hundred local charities, community groups and small businesses, emergency services, the NHS and representatives of other Pride organisations.
Leading the march were 50 people from Ukraine Pride who were joined by human rights activists before delivering a poignant speech at the park later on in the day.
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On Saturday (6 August) more than 50,000 people attended the We Are Fabuloso community fundraising event in Preston Park to witness superstar Christina Aguilera take to the main stage for a show-stopping headline performance featuring hits including ‘Dirrty,’ ‘Fighter,’ ‘Candy Man,’ and ‘Ain’t No Other Man.’
Aguilera then took a stand against Florida’s recently passed ‘Don’t Say Gay, Don’t Say Trans’ law as her backup dancers held up signs reading ‘Say Gay’ and the screen behind them explained the law.
Photo: Chris Jepson
Elsewhere in the day audiences were treated to performances from Ella Henderson, Todrick Hall, Bimini, Raye, L-Divine, Tia Kofi, and over 100 LGBTQ+ artists in cabaret tents, dance tents, stages and immersive experiences across the park.
On Sunday (7 August) the Fabuloso fiesta at the park continued with Lyra opening the main stage before fan favourites Björn Again hosted an almighty ABBA singalong.
Cat Burns, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Jake Shears wowed the crowd before headliner Paloma Faith made a dazzling entrance in head-to-toe red latex and treated the crows to its including ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This,’ ‘Can’t Rely On You’ and ‘Cry Baby’.
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“We are thrilled that Brighton Pride made a successful return to the city for its 30th anniversary,” Brighton and Hove Pride Managing Director Paul Kemp says.
“It was a truly fantastic weekend of ‘Love, Protest & Unity’ with campaigning and protest right at the heart of two days full of celebration,” Kemp continued.
“The LGBTQ+ community parade remains a highlight of the weekend and we were proud this year to be able to support Ukraine Pride alongside human rights activists who marched at the front in an incredibly moving display of unity.”
Photo: Chris Jepson
“Christina Aguilera, Paloma Faith, and over 100 LGBTQ+ artists put on the most incredible performances for our fund-raising event We Are Fabulouso. It has been a spectacular weekend for our city and LGBTQ+ community celebrating our 30 years of campaigning while committing to carrying on the fight until we are free to live and love equally,” Kemp concluded.
With Brighton and Hove Pride the most popular international festival, the sole ethos of the famously vibrant and popular event is to promote diversity, inclusion and education within the community while also raising funds for local LGBTQ+ charity and community groups and projects through the Brighton Rainbow Fund and Social Impact Fund.
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