Vote: What should be the theme for this year's Brighton Pride? (From The Argus)

Vote: What should be the theme for this year's Brighton Pride?

9:50am Tuesday 10th April 2012 in News By Neil Vowles

The theme for this year’s Pride in Brighton and Hove will be the United Colours of Pride or triumphs and tragedies.

Following a competition held in The Argus, which attracted a wide range of suggestions, a panel of the festival’s organisers and the newspaper’s staff have whittled it down to two suggestions.

Now we need you to make the final call and vote which one you want to see represented on the streets of the city on September 1.

Entries from charity director Helen Jones and photographer Phil Bailey both wanted the themes to reflect a return to the original values of Pride in remembering the thousands of LGBT community members around the globe who still face violence and discrimination.

Mr Bailey, 52, from Gloucester Street, Brighton, who suggested triumphs and tragedies, said: “It’s great that my idea is being considered.

“I did suggest it as a theme last year but it was discounted.”

Ms Jones, director at MindOut LGBT mental health project in Community Base in Brighton, said in her submission: “The inclusion of issues such as identifying the countries where LGBT community members are still discriminated against will give the event a political edge and relevance in 2012 while not detracting from the carnival atmosphere and colour of the parade.”

Trevor Edwards, Pride Brighton and Hove director, said: “We were heartened to see suggestions taking pride in our forces, public services and all things Britannia in this Olympic and Jubilee year.

“However the panel thought that we wanted something that acknowledged the struggles and sometimes turbulent history of Prides both around the world and here in Brighton and Hove.”

Preparations continue for this year’s event with Select Security and Stewarding again chosen as the security organisers for the event.

Organisers said they had already received 12 enquiries of interest from community groups and businesses keen to host floats since asking for pre-interest on their Facebook site last week.

Potential float organisers are being warned they will have to register quickly with a limited number of spaces available with costs ranging from £50 for LGBT community groups to £800 for national businesses.

Registration is likely to take place soon after a key meeting between festival organisers, emergency services and city council officials on April 18.

Organisers have confirmed the parade route will remain the same this year.

Fifty posters advertising the event have also been put up around the Kemp Town area of the city.

The event’s website is also expected to go live around the start of May.

How to vote

Voting Rules

Tuesday April 10 – Voting opens by text and online poll above

Thursday April 12 – Voting closes at noon.

Friday April 13 – Pride 2012 theme announced in The Argus.

To vote for Triumphs and Tragedies, send your text to 80360 starting with TRIUMPHS leave a space, followed by your answer, name and contact details.

To vote for The United Colours of Pride, send your text to 80360 starting with UNITED leave a space, followed by your answer, name and contact details.

Text lines open 10/04/2012 and close 12/04/2012 at 11.59am. For full terms click here. Service Provided by Newsquest Media Group.