The Art and Culture Zone: Gay-Friendly Brighton ~ A Culture of Freedom for All ~ by Janet Cameron

Float, Pride 2009 ~ Image: Gareth Cameron

A look at the evolution of the Pride Parade in Brighton, from its activist beginnings to the joyous community event it is today.

There were nine Pride events in Brighton during the 1990s. The earlier ‘Gay Prides’ were not the colourful celebration we know today, but more like demonstrations that were beset by problems, practical, financial and political. Newspaper reports and readers’ letters revealed a level of intolerance that must have been overwhelming for the gay and gay-friendly participants.

The 1991 event was actually an angry protest against Section 28, which was an amendment to the United Kingdom’s Local Government Act stating that a Local Authority ‘shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality.’ It caused teachers to be afraid to counsel about gay issues for fear of losing state funding. LGBT support groups closed across the UK. Section 28 was repealed in Scotland on 21 June 2000 and in the rest of UK on 18 November 2003.

Early Pride Parades - a Struggle to be Heard

Early Prides were run by a small number of dedicated individuals, usually at a loss and most were dogged by violent instances of hate-related crime. Towards the end of the decade the Gay Pride Parade began to gather momentum. (Later, the non-inclusive word ‘Gay’ was dropped.) Although Pride was still about politics and equality, by 1998, Pride had become more adventurous and inventive, attracting more high-profile figures to help publicise the rights of LGBT people, for example Venus’ Love Child and Leo Sayer. The year 1999 was very special, with the theme of ‘Weddings’ and several couples were married. The Revd. David Miller of the Fellowship of Faith said: ‘It is a rite of blessing rather than a wedding services. Couples get a certificate, which is proof for them. It is a commitment for both of them and shows that they are in a stable relationship.’

Marriage and Commitment - a Human Right

On 24 January 2003, the first civil marriage took place at Brighton Town Hall and was recognised by the Council, although the document was of no legal value. Three years later, the law changed. Today, some married LGBT people have two rings, a gold band on their left hand from their first commitment ceremony, and — on their right hand — a diamond marriage ring.

Annual Themes for the Pride Parade

From now on, each Pride was themed, as follows:

2000 – Silver Screen
2001 – Myths and Legends
2002 – Glam and Glitz
2003 – The Greatest Show on Earth
2004 – The Hit Parade
2005 – Heroes and Heroines
2006 – Carry On
2007 – Musicals
2008 – Pride Around the World
2009 – Beside the Seaside
2010 – Pride and (No) Prejudice

Pride 2006 (Carry On) had an especially touching moment, when Barbara Windsor, who was the Guest of Honour, said how much she loved Brighton. She said, ‘I think I’m the only one left,’ (of the Carry On comedy film team) and continued that she hoped the other members of the team would be looking down at her — and wondering — ‘what that little tart’s doing down there?'
Unfortunately, the Pride Parades were beset with protests from 'Christian Voice' holding aloft their banners displaying texts from the Old Testament. Most people ignored them. St. John's Ambulance provided a reassuring presence: the year 2009 was their fifteenth year of dedicated, voluntary service to Pride.

"Gay for a Day"

Sadly, Pride is still struggling with financial problems. An article by Emily Elliott in The Argus dated 14 August 2009 was headed ‘Are ‘gay for a day’ crowd ruining Pride?.’ Then Emily Elliott asked, ‘Does it campaign to challenge prejudice? Or is it now just an opportunity for residents and visitors, whatever their sexuality, to have a party?’ She explained that some members of the gay community were disappointed that they were responsible for most of the fund-raising while other people made money from the event. It seemed some LGBT people didn’t understand why they were doing it any more.
Others felt that Pride should be a celebration involving the whole community. ‘We are fortunate to live in a city, where the majority of people are so accepting of others, regardless of their sexuality, race or religion,’ said City Councillor, Paul Elgood. He suggested organisers should find a balance between those feeling that Pride had lost its ‘political roots’ and the idea of the event as a community celebration.

Sources:
‘Quotations from Pride’, The Argus, 10 August, 2010.
‘Are ‘gay for a day’ crowd ruining Pride?’ by Emily Elliott, The Argus, 14 August 2009.
LGBT Brighton and Hove, Janet Cameron, Amberley Publishing, 2009.
Dean Thorpe, www.aspexdesign.co.uk.
The staff at The History Centre, The Royal Pavilion.
Thanks to the LGBT community of Brighton and Hove for information and anecdotes.

Janet Cameron - MA. Cert.Ed. is a retired university lecturer and author of twelve books, women's short fiction and a magazine column.