THE PRIDE OF EASTBOURNE

By Rachel Badham

The party is going ahead on August 7. Rachel Badham gets the lowdown on the day and Eastbourne Pride’s mission to further inclusivity in the area.

Having been established in 2016 by Betty Gallacher, Eastbourne Pride is preparing to return to the coastal town to spread an important message of inclusion and acceptance. Although Eastbourne Pride is only five years old, it has rapidly grown in popularity and is renowned for being a safe space for all.

Eastbourne Pride is an offshoot of local LGBTQ+ organisation Bourne Out, also headed up by Betty and her partner Mandy. Bourne Out operates all year round, running an LGBTQ+ inclusive café in The Labyrinth in central Eastbourne, where people of all backgrounds and identities can come in to socialise or receive support for any issues they may be facing.

Speaking to Scene, Betty explained that her background as a trade unionist paved the way for her involvement in Pride: “I used to have a bus on London Pride with the trade union. [After retiring and moving to Eastbourne] I went to Eastbourne Council and said I wanted to take over Bourne Out, as nothing had happened with it for years, and that I wanted to have a Pride as well – they nearly had a fit when I said Pride!”

To be allowed to run the event, Betty had to contend with various obstacles: “We were given a small venue to start with, and to actually get a date for Pride I had to call it a Mardi Gras event – they wouldn’t accept the term Pride.” However, after a sizeable crowd of 2,500 turned up, Eastbourne Pride was finally born.

At the first Pride, Betty noticed the high numbers of young trans and queer people attending. It was then that she made it her mission to help LGBTQ+ youth in the area and change the town’s attitudes towards the community, saying: “I want to change people’s thinking... These kids shouldn’t be going through what we went through [as young people]. It helps to start conversations between people that stop all this homophobic [and transphobic] hate – that’s what I’m all about, I want to stop all this hate. Life is too short to be full of hate.”

She also noted that “children aren’t taught hate, they learn it”, and hopes that Eastbourne Pride will continue to start vital discussions between people of all identities to end LGBTQ+ discrimination. As Betty continues her work in the local LGBTQ+ community, she strives to “help people feel comfortable in their own skin” and offer a listening ear to anybody who needs it.

Although there will be no Pride parade this year, the family-friendly Party in the Park will host a handful of dazzling performers, speakers and music acts. Pride-goers can expect to see performances from ABBA and Adele tribute acts, Brighton-based drag queen Davina Sparkle, singer-songwriter Miles Goodall and an appearance by prominent LGBTQ+ activist and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. An after-party will also be held at the Temple Bar for anyone who wants to continue celebrating into the night.

Everybody, including many LGBTQ+ people, has been affected by the pandemic, so Betty wants to provide a safe space for people to enjoy themselves: “It’s been one hell of a time that we’ve all gone through, and we just want to try to cheer people’s lives up.” Even after Pride is over, the Bourne Out café will remain open: “It’s to make everybody feel wanted – you don’t have to be LGBTQ+. If you’re lonely, you can come in and talk. The more talking is done, the brighter the future, and I believe it’s important to share your experience.”

Eastbourne Pride will be held on Saturday, August 7 in Princes Park, starting at 11am. Attendees will need a free wristband to enter the venue, which can be picked up from the Bourne Out office located at 1 The Labyrinth, 7 Mark Lane, Eastbourne, BN21 4RJ. Wristbands can also be collected from Who Let The Dogs Out? at 4 Mark Lane, Eastbourne, BN21 4RJ.