BRIGHTON and Hove has been praised as leading the way on LGBT rights on the eve of the city’s 25th Pride event.

Leading human rights campaigner and regular Pride attendee Peter Tatchell praised the city and its council for its support of LGBT causes.

He joins leading city figures in wishing Pride a happy birthday as organisers prepare for the 25th running of the event.

More than 160,000 partygoers are expected to take part in Pride celebrations all over the city this weekend – quite an increase on the 100 or so who featured in Brighton’s first Pride in 1973.

The main events on Saturday will begin with an extended parade which starts from Hove Lawns at 11am and retraces the steps of the first Pride walks.

Attention will then switch to Preston Park where scores of performers including Fatboy Slim, The Human League, Foxes, Tulisa and Ella Henderson will perform in front of up to 30,000 spectators. The fun will then continue at the Pride Village Party in the St James’s Street area.

Partygoers will return on Sunday for a more chilled out ending with the solemn Celebration of Life and Love at New Steine Gardens.

The city is going under a colourful transformation as the days countdown with city bars, businesses and shops all adopting rainbow colours to show their support for one of the biggest events in Brighton and Hove’s busy social calendar.

This year’s build-up to the landmark 25th Pride has been bigger than ever with two weeks of exhibitions, screenings and performances as part of the Pride Arts and Film Festival. The partying will continue tonight with the Pride on the Pier event featuring cabaret and karaoke.

Brighton and Hove mayor Lynda Hyde said: “We live in a happy bubble of acceptance and diversity in Brighton and Hove but that positive philosophy is not universally shared. Pride provides a moment for people to declare and display the positive benefits of diversity and the chance for our city to bask in that reflected glow is a privilege.”

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne said: “Brighton Pride is the biggest cultural event in the city’s calendar and showcases all that is great about the city and its vibrant LGBT community.

"This is my third year attending in my role as PCC and I’m really looking forward to joining Sussex Police officers on their march to Preston Park and meeting all those who help make this an important and fun day.”

WHY WE LOVE PRIDE

The Argus: George MontagueGeorge Montague George Montague

George Montague, self-styled Oldest gay in the Village and Pride regular, said: "I’m proud to live in a city that is the most gay-friendly in the world for its size.

“I'm getting married at Brighton Town Hall tomorrow for no other reason than to promote gay marriage.

“I have huge admiration for David Cameron for putting it through which has made everyone more gay friendly.

“We’re going to decorate my scooter with cans, pink ribbons and just married signs for the parade, it’s going to be wonderful with everybody cheering.

“I think this will be my last Pride as I’m 93 next year, my biggest and last."

The Argus: Councillor Alex Phillips

Alex Phillips, deputy Green convener and city councillor, said: “Pride at 25 has become a fun, energetic celebration of human rights, diverse relationships and resistance to intolerance and bigotry on a scale that would have been unimaginable in the early days. 

“I’m proud to say that, alongside Pride’s achievements and those of many LGBT groups across Brighton and Hove, our city council has become an award-winning and pro-active advocate of LGBT rights, promoting equality and understanding while tackling homophobic discrimination and bullying in our communities and in our schools. 

“In spite of all this, there are no grounds for complacency.

“In the next 25 years our vision is for a city where people are treated as equals regardless of their sexuality or gender identity."

The Argus: Councillor Warren Morgan

Warren Morgan, Brighton and Hove City Council leader, said: “To be marking a quarter of a century of Pride signifies something positive and powerful. 

“It’s about progress, community, society and equality, yet it’s also about love, faith, friendship and courage.

“Those early Pride celebrations were forged by a small and passionate group of local people, often as a reaction to some pretty challenging social attitudes and circumstances.

“Acceptance and tolerance were phrases often bandied about then, words that feel quite archaic now when celebration and respect seem more apt.

“Pride celebrations in our city have thrived and I commend the work of the community interest company in that regard - their dynamism and partnership approach has benefitted the LGBT community and our city.”

The Argus: Simon FanshaweSimon Fanshawe Simon Fanshawe

Simon Fanshawe, broadcaster and co-founder of Stonewall, said: “Pride has turned into the village fair and that is a sign of the times.

“I would be very interested in what the proportion of straight and gay people going is, a huge proportion go to Pride not necessarily because they are gay but they like the message it is saying.

“Everybody loves it, from grannies to children.

“Pride is always most important to those who have never had it before, whether it’s the 15-year-old on the verge of coming out at Brighton Pride or people in Kenya or Uganda who are deprived of those freedoms.

“Brighton Pride can have that global impact because what happens here can be amplified by social media.”

The Argus: Peter TatchellPeter Tatchell Peter Tatchell

Peter Tatchell, director of Peter Tatchell Foundation, said: "I've attended most Brighton Pride parades over the decades. 

“Each one has been a real treat, with a great carnival atmosphere. 

“We've made great progress for LGBT rights in England. Brighton has often led the way. 

“The city council’s initiatives for trans people are pioneering and commendable. 

“In the parade this year, the Peter Tatchell Foundation is highlighting state-sanctioned homophobic discrimination in Northern Ireland: the legal ban on same-sex marriage and on gay blood donors, as well as the proposed new conscience law that would allow religious people to discriminate against LGBT men and women. 

“It is outrageous that a part of the UK is still treating LGBT people as second class citizens.”

The Argus: Peter Kyle MPPeter Kyle MP Peter Kyle MP

Peter Kyle, Hove MP, said: "As Hove’s first openly gay MP I’m proud to be able to represent the LGBT communities and show how far we have come and what we can achieve. 

“I’m over-the-moon to be in a position to be able to be a loud and effective voice for all sections of the community and I will endeavour to continue to push forward boundaries and show the next generation that nothing is impossible. 

“Enjoy Pride weekend – I hope it’s the best one yet."

The Argus: Paul KempPaul Kemp Paul Kemp

Paul Kemp, Brighton Pride co-director, said: “Brighton and Hove Pride is a Pride to be proud of.

“Alongside the smiles, sunshine (hopefully) and good times, our sole ethos is to promote tolerance and diversity within our communities.

“As a not-for-profit, community interest organisation, supporting local community groups and charities is the cornerstone of everything we do, we are Pride with purpose.

“Our Pride will continue to raise awareness of the plight of global LGBT communities who do not enjoy the same freedoms that we enjoy.

“Pride is our opportunity to celebrate the unique diversity, and quirkiness of our fabulous city.

“Pride is as famous, vibrant, popular and utterly unique as our city itself. 

“Everyone’s welcome.”

The Argus: Councillor Lynda HydeCouncillor Lynda Hyde Councillor Lynda Hyde

Lynda Hyde, Brighton and Hove mayor, said: “I have to start with something of a confession; I’ve never been to Pride. 

“It’s always fallen on a day when I’ve had other engagements, and I’ve been desperate to attend for years. 

“It’s an additional blessing being Mayor has afforded me and I’m so excited.

“That’s not to say that I’m unaware of its scale or impact and what I am very clear about is the meaning it has for people and how vital it continues to be.

“The boost to our economy is considerable and the global profile it provides is something other places would give their eye teeth for.

“The mix of partying, politics, sloganeering, campaigning and sheer silliness is pretty potent and that heady atmosphere is something I’m keen to experience."

The Argus: Lola LasagneLola Lasagne Lola Lasagne

Stephen Richards, aka Lola Lasagne, Pride Festival cabaret tent host and organiser, said: “I have performed at Pride since 1997 and Pride has certainly grown since then and from its roots as a protest march around The Level.

“Brighton is a wonderful city and Pride gives people a chance to visit and enjoy it.

“The parade is well supported and then there’s the park but there’s also lots to do if you don’t want to go there.

“There are so many events this year, it’s not just boys in pants, it’s such a diverse event now.

“I love to use the stage as a soapbox and I will be reminding people on Saturday how far we have come because elsewhere in the world and in the UK people can’t come out and people are discriminated against.”

ROADS CLOSED FOR PARADE AND PARTIES

ROADS affected by the Pride Parade and Pride event in Preston Park...

The roads below will be closed between 9am and 3.30pm on Saturday:
King’s Way from Grand Avenue to King’s Road
King’s Road
Grand Junction Road
West Street
North Street
Castle Square
Old Steine
Marlborough Place
Gloucester Place
St George’s Place
York Place
London Road
Preston Circus
Preston Road from Preston Circus to Carden Avenue
Stanford Avenue between Preston Road and Florence Road
New England Road between New England Street and Preston Circus
Queen’s Place two way traffic flow
Oxford Place two way traffic flow
Francis Street two way traffic flow
Baker Street two way traffic flow
Kingsbury Road two way traffic flow
Rose Hill Terrace two way traffic flow.

Once the Parade leaves the city centre, roads will reopen. However some closures may remain until it is safe to reopen them. Preston Road will be closed between 3.30pm and 11pm.

For the Pride Village Party, the following roads will be closed from 10am on Saturday until 3am on Sunday and then from 12 noon until 10pm on Sunday.

St. James’s Street
George Street 
High Street
Chapel Street
Dorset Gardens
Steine Street
Manchester Street
Charles Street
Broad Street
Madeira Place
Camelford Street
Margaret Street
Wentworth Street
Rock Place
New Steine
St James’s Avenue
Devonshire Place
Pavilion Street
Princes Street
A259 Marine Parade from Aquarium Roundabout to Lower Rock Gardens