It’s not without irony that in drafting this blog I reached for the phrase “shifting sands”; anyone who has visited our city will know that the one thing our coastal resort doesn’t have is a sandy shore. Our beach is a pebbly one.
However, shifting sands was the phrase that emerged as I considered Pride; its history, its meaning and the organisations behind it. This year marks its 25th anniversary and everything has shifted since 1991 – attitudes, laws, cultural norms and not least the economic envelope of local government.
Our continued support of Pride is bolstered by the economic impact it has on our city. Over one weekend our local economy is boosted by about £13m, that’s 2% of our annual visitor income. No politician can afford to ignore that.
But the greatest consideration the council owes is to the communities that comprise our city.
Great strives have been made in equality over the past few decades but we are not complacent in Brighton and Hove, and I will continue to work towards real fairness in our city.
The council recently undertook a needs assessment with our transgender community – the first such assessment in the UK, and long overdue. It is vital we know as much about our population as possible, so services are appropriate and accessible to everybody. The city has just hosted its third Trans Pride, a milestone in itself, which tells us a lot about the resilience of communities and the platform that Pride celebrations can provide.
We have long supported the organisers of Pride and with the advent of the Pride community interest company, the council has a stable partner and has been able to invest in a longer term strategy, securing the future of Pride. That alone has meant the event can generate more than £100,000 for local charities.
Pride is the biggest standalone event that takes place in Brighton and Hove – no small boast, considering we are home to a massive arts festival and any number of concerts and sporting activities.
The sheer influx of people takes some managing, as does the knock on effect of having a big party in the middle of the city. We work very closely with the police to ensure public safety and every year we learn something new. The success of the event has produced its own set of challenges, and it’s our joint responsibility to make it a safe and happy occasion.
The thing I most cherish about Pride is the sheer diversity it represents; like our pebbly beach the LGBT community itself is comprised of thousands of different individuals, each of whom add to the vibrancy, colour and success of our city.
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