BRIGHTON Pride will this year celebrate the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK with a carnival of diversity.

Tickets are now on sale for the festival in Preston Park and organisers have announced the theme for this year’s event – Summer of Love.

Paul Kemp, managing director of Brighton Pride, said: “Coming together as a community to declare our unity has become more important than ever and it is hard to believe that only 50 years ago it was illegal to be gay in the UK.

“This year we celebrate diversity in our great city, moving forward, campaigning and connecting with others in our community to celebrate with a Summer of Love and our brand new Carnival of Diversity.”

The Pride Festival has previously featured performances from international stars including Sister Sledge, Fatboy Slim, The Human League, Fleur East, Boy George, Paloma Faith and Ms Dynamite.

Known as the country’s most popular LGBT event, the festival is a vibrant celebration of Brighton and Hove’s diverse community.

Mr Kemp added: “There are still many LGBT communities around the world who continue to face discrimination, inequality and even imprisonment or death for just being who they are and expressing their own personalities.

“Sadly even in 2017 there are still those in the UK who would take the LGBT community back to the days before decriminalisation and equality.

“Our sole aim is to provide benefit to the community or to trade with a social purpose, rather than to make a private profit.”

Ticket revenue pays for the operational and running costs of producing the Pride Festival, the parade and the Pride Village Party and the event raises money for the Rainbow Fund and Pride Social Impact Fund.

Brighton Pride runs from Friday, August 4 to Sunday August 6, with the parade and festival in Preston Park on the Saturday.

Early bird and first release tickets for the park festival are available. Village party wristbands are not yet on sale, although a A limited number of joint festival and village party tickets are now available, saving £6 on the full price online village party weekend pass.

For more information, visit brighton-pride.org.

If you are interested in your group entering the Pride Community Parade you can fill in an expression of interest form via the website parade page.