BRIGHTON Pride’s Community Parade is going back to its roots as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations by starting in Hove.

This year’s community parade will make its colourful, noisy and celebratory way from Hove Lawns along the city’s seafront and then up West Street on its route towards Preston Park.

Organisers say they want this year’s route to reflect the number of Pride events taking place in Hove as well as retreading the footsteps of the earliest LGBT Pride parades in the city from the Peace Statue.

Representatives from major firms including American Express, Nando’s and Domestic and General along with community groups such as Brighton School of Samba, the Scouts and Brighton Rockers Roller Derby while The Argus will make a welcome return to the parade after three years away.

As well of hundreds of colourfully dressed participants, the Community Parade will feature a giant 50ft long rainbow when it comes to life on Saturday August 1 from 11am.

Recent parades had begun in Madeira Drive, Brighton, before heading along King’s Road up to West Street.

Pride organisers have teamed up with Brighton Carriers to provide flat bed lorries in various sizes to make it easier for groups to enter the parade.

Already signed up to take part are Sainsbury’s, Barclays, Marta Scott Dance Company, Brighton Theatre Group, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and South East Coast Ambulance Service.

The Argus has teamed up with Brighton and Hove Bus Company to have an open top bus in the parade – four years after our last float.

We will also be hosting a best dressed photographic completion in Preston Park.

Brighton Pride director Paul Kemp said: “Pride is all about Brighton and Hove and this August will see the parade route include our entire seaside city, acknowledging the many Pride events taking place in Hove this year.

“Reflecting Brighton’s proud history of Pride, the new parade route is acknowledgement of the very first Brighton Pride marches, when campaigners joined together against adversity to declare LGBT+ Pride in the city.”

Mike Whyte, vice president merchant services at American Express which is a gold partner of this year’s Brighton Pride, said: “We are immensely proud to be continuing our partnership with Brighton Pride and we’re looking forward to celebrating their 25 years of incredible work, raising awareness and funds for the LGBT community.”

Brighton Pride volunteers taking part in the parade will be eligible for a ticket to the Preston Park event and can apply at Brighton-Pride.org.

Businesses and community groups needing a float should contact Parade@Brighton-Pride.org.

Background

The first Pride event in Brighton was held in 1973, organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front and saw about 100 people take part in a march from Norfolk Square to Ship Street.

It was a one-off until Pride reappeared in 1991 inspired by the introduction of section 28 in 1988 – which banned local authorities from promoting homosexuality.

It was held in May and incorporated within the Brighton Festival which included an Alternative Miss Brighton show in the Brighton station car park, hosted by Lily Savage and Simon Fanshawe.