Brighton Pride cancelled for second year in a row
Video report by ITV News Meridian's Andy Dickenson
The organisers of the Brighton Pride event, set to take place on the 7th and 8th of August, have announced the cancellation of the event.
In a statement released on social media, organisers say that they 'cannot risk the health and safety of Pride visitors, residents and the hundreds of staff and volunteers that help deliver Pride'.
In a full statement on their website, they reflected on the current success of the vaccine rollout but said: 'the many uncertainties that need to be resolved to safely deliver mass gatherings and the complexities of organising multiple Pride events across our city are impossible to achieve in the time we have'.
In the statement, Paul Kemp, the Director of Brighton Pride said: "We are devastated at having to make this decision for a second year and recognise the huge impact on local businesses, charities and community groups who rely on the fundraising potential of the Pride weekend".
Nick Hibberd, Brighton & Hove City Council’s Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture, said: "We’re very sorry that the in-person Pride events need to be cancelled again this year. They are very important community events in our city’s cultural calendar promoting LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion and will be much missed".
Organisers say they will 'still be planning smaller in-person satellite community and pop-up cultural events throughout the summer and autumn as part of our cultural programme that can run within COVID-safe guidelines as well as an exciting programme of on-line events'.
Those with tickets for this event have three options: roll over their tickets for next year's event, donate the value of the ticket to the Brighton Rainbow Fund or get a full refund. More information can be found here.