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Issue 43 • Friday 27 February - Thursday 12 March 2009
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WINTER WONDER
Support Winter Pride and keep the festival free THE PEOPLE OF Brighton and Hove are being urged to get behind this month’s Winter Pride festival to help keep the summer event free. Brighton and Hove Pride remains one of the biggest free LGBT events in Europe, but few people realise the enormous lengths organisers go to to ensure that the summer festival stays that way. Sponsorships and donations from individuals and businesses provide much of the funding, but organising Pride is a year-round endeavour, as Judith Manson, Fundraising and Communications Manager at Brighton Pride explains. “The winter months are when we have the least amount of money coming in,” she says. “Therefore, our Winter Pride event is crucial to our fundraising efforts, and works as a week that refocuses the community after the Christmas break.” This year’s Winter Pride is the biggest yet, with more than 90 official events taking place. “Every year I think that WP is going to be smaller than the year before, but every year it grows,” says Manson. As the event has grown, so has the number of
community groups involved. “We want both summer and winter Pride festivals to be as inclusive as possible,” she says. “In 2006, a trans tent was introduced at Brighton’s summer Pride, in conjunction with The Gender Trust and The Clare Project, which was a huge success. Through those relationships, we’ve been able to introduce lots of bi and trans-focused events to Winter Pride - for example, the Clare Project has something happening every day of the festival.” This year’s theme, Pride Beside the Seaside, is firmly in evidence, despite the chilliness of the season – events planned include a nude swim and a beachwear-only sports day; but if those send a shiver down your spine there’s plenty else to get involved with. “There really is something for everyone,” says Manson. “We’d love to see you there, so come and take part!”
Winter Pride fun with the BLAGGS bowling competition
New owners Graeme Austin (l) and Tony V
Winter Pride runs from Sat 7 Mar to Sun 15 Mar. See pages 5 and 20 for the pick of the best community and scene events.
SCENE GUIDE PAGES 18 - 22 - RAMBERT DANCE COMPANY INTERVIEW PAGE 10 - ARTS & ENTS GUIDE PAGES 7-13