I’ve been to Pride in 30 countries, but the UK has one of the best

Brighton is famed for being a queer metropolis 365 days a year, but every August, LGBT+ people from right across the country flock to this seaside paradise for the country’s most iconic celebration.

The thing that makes Brighton Pride really stand out, for me, is that you get a beach celebration, a city celebration and a countryside celebration all rolled into one.

The main event is an expansive music festival that takes place in the leafy green of Preston Park. With previous headliners including the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and Kylie Minogue, they consistently bring a lineup that rivals some of the best festivals in the country.

You can immerse yourself in the heart of the crowd, spend the day bouncing between the many stages and dance tents, or just enjoy a drink in the sun or beneath the shade of the many overhanging trees.

If that’s not really your thing, the celebrations in the heart of the city offer something a little different.

Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications.

As one of the best and most colourful pride parades in the country, the pride march kicks off on Saturday morning and runs for several hours, perfectly balancing the feeling of queer joy and celebration with one of much needed protest.

In 2017, in a bid to prevent rainbow washing and empty corporate sponsorship, Brighton Pride introduced a new groundbreaking policy.

With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community.

Simply click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! Don't forget to turn on notifications!

Any businesses in the parade must be able to show evidence of pro LGBT+ policies, and support for the community that is year-round, not just during pride month. All floats and banners in the parade must also include messaging in support of meaningful LGBT+ causes.

This year’s theme for the parade is ‘The Power of Love’, a celebration of queer love, queer family and the intersections that connect us. In a time when the world is trying to drive the community apart – and separate the LGB from the T – this message of love and unity is more important than ever. 

Once the parade comes to an end, every corner of the city then turns into one giant queer social. Although the official street party takes place down on Marine Parade, every single road feels like a part of the celebration.

The street parties run late into the night, followed by after parties at Brighton’s countless LGBT+ venues.

But if all of that sounds like a little much, and you prefer something a little quieter and more relaxed, Brighton’s iconic beach front turns into a much more chilled celebration.

Away from the pumping music of the pride festival and street parties, this is the city’s unofficial queer gathering.

You’ll find hundreds of people from the LGBT+ community sitting on the pebbled shores, both rainbow and trans colours hitched high in the sky amongst picnic blankets and coolers aplenty.

I was most touched, one year, to meet a trans man who told me it was the very first time he felt comfortable taking his shirt off in public.

And that’s why Brighton Pride is so special, it doesn’t just offer a diversity of spaces, it also ensures there’s something for every member of the community.

This is very much in keeping with Brighton’s inclusive spirit. Year round, you can find events tailored specifically for queer women, trans people, and QPOC.

There’s a queer friendly church, proudly displaying the rainbow colours year-round; Brighton’s nude beach which is particularly popular with queer men; and inclusive saunas which, despite the UK’s efforts to legislate trans people out of single sex spaces, offer inclusive sessions and discounted rates for the trans community.

Brighton is such a queer mecca that even growing up in The Midlands, years before I’d come out of the closet myself, I was aware of this far off fantasy place that was welcoming of gays and lesbians.

It was always a dream to go there, and I’m delighted to say that visiting as an adult certainly made those queer dreams come true. It’s essential for any queer person, and going during pride is just the rainbow icing on top.

All that said, this year, Brighton certainly have their work cut out for them.

With the World Pride celebrations taking place in Amsterdam over the exact same weekend, a lot of Queer Brits will be jumping on the Eurostar and heading across The Channel.

For those that choose to stay behind, however, Brighton Pride are bringing an incredibly competitive line up.

With everyone from Ru Paul to Diana Ross and Raye, I imagine there’s going to be a lot of sore throats the following morning from the gays screaming every word of ‘I’m Coming Out’ and ‘Where The Hell Is My Husband?‘

Wherever you choose to celebrate, there’s one thing I can say for sure, and that is that we’re in here for one hell of a gay August.

Happy Pride, however you choose to celebrate. I can’t wait to see some of you down on Brighton’s rainbow shores.

Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy