Brighton & Hove Pride wraps 35th anniversary weekend with Diana Ross and fresh ticket price debate

Brighton Pride closed its 35th-anniversary weekend with Diana Ross at Preston Park, but ticket prices ranging from £60 to VIP packages have renewed questions about accessibility.

Brighton & Hove Pride brought its 35th-anniversary weekend to a close with a headline performance from Diana Ross at Preston Park.

The music legend opened her set with I’m Coming Out before performing songs spanning her solo career and her years with The Supremes. Her set also included I Will Survive, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and Be You, a song written especially for Brighton Pride.

Ross was joined across the weekend by performers including Raye, Paris Hilton, Mel C, Holly Johnson and 5ive. More than 150 LGBTQ+ acts were due to appear across the celebrations.

Organisers estimated that around 300,000 people would take part in or watch the community parade, with up to 450,000 expected across Brighton and Hove during the weekend. These figures were projections rather than a confirmed final attendance.

Leigh-Anne addresses a Little Mix reunion

Little Mix fans also received an update from Leigh-Anne Pinnock as she discussed the prospect of the group reuniting in an exclusive Gaydio interview.

The conversation comes amid continuing interest in what could be next for Leigh-Anne and her fellow Little Mix members. The supplied material does not establish whether a reunion has been agreed or provide a potential timetable.

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Bimini talks about entering politics

In another exclusive Gaydio interview, Bimini discussed moving into politics.

The performer and model spoke about the subject as Pride continued to combine celebration with conversations about LGBTQ+ rights and representation.

No political party, prospective role or timetable is established by the supplied material, so the interview should not be presented as confirmation that Bimini is standing for office.

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Pride prices prompt accessibility debate

The anniversary celebrations came amid renewed criticism of Brighton Pride’s commercial direction and affordability.

Standard tickets for the Pride on the Park festival ranged from £45 to £350, although limited discounted options were available. The supplied reporting does not explain what was included in each ticket tier.

One critic told the BBC that people in her circle were boycotting the event because they believed it had moved away from its radical roots. Some members of the trans community were also reported to feel unwelcome, although the scale and reasons behind those concerns were not detailed.

Brighton Pride organiser Paul Kemp has defended the role of commercial partners, arguing that an event of this scale could not take place without sponsorship. Organisers also say Pride has raised more than £1.4 million for LGBTQ+ causes, although the reporting does not specify the period covered by that figure.

Berlin attack placed security in focus

The weekend took place one week after a van and stabbing attack at Berlin Pride left one person dead and at least 29 others injured.

Brighton organisers said those affected would remain in the community’s thoughts and that the incident reinforced the importance of LGBTQ+ people continuing to be visible.

Sussex Police included armed officers alongside uniformed and plain-clothed teams. The force described this as standard practice for an event of this size, while organisers stressed that the security operation had been planned over several months.

The supplied reporting does not establish the motive for the Berlin attack. It should therefore not be described as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime or terrorist incident without further confirmed information.

From protest to a major city-wide event

Brighton’s first Pride march took place in 1973, organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front. Only a small number of people reportedly felt safe enough to join, and Pride did not return to the city until 1991.

The modern parade grew from protests against Section 28 and has since become one of the country’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations.

This year’s Power of Love theme honoured the activists who made that journey possible. But the debate around prices, corporate involvement and inclusion shows that questions about Pride’s purpose remain as relevant as ever.