Organisers of Brighton and Hove Pride have announced that the recent attack on Berlin Pride will be a significant point of reflection during this year’s festival, which marks its 35th anniversary. The UK’s largest Pride event takes place this weekend, just days after a van and stabbing attack in Berlin resulted in one death and left at least 29 people injured.

Paul Kemp, managing director of Brighton and Hove Pride, expressed solidarity with those affected by the Berlin incident and reaffirmed the community’s commitment to visibility and resilience. “We are coming out and we are not going away,” Kemp said, emphasizing the event’s focus on both remembrance and celebration of LGBT identity, especially amid concerns about setbacks to LGBT rights globally.

Kemp noted that one of the Pride organisers was in Berlin during the attack last weekend, and the incident will be addressed throughout the weekend’s events. He described this year’s Pride as an opportunity to highlight the ongoing struggle and progress of the LGBT community. “This year is reflecting on what’s happened in Berlin, is really highlighting the journey and the importance of why we have pride,” he stated.

Brighton Pride has a long history, with its first march held in July 1973 by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front. At that time, only a small segment of the community felt safe enough to participate. The event did not resume annually until 1991. For the 35th anniversary, organisers intend to honour those early activists and acknowledge the courage it took for individuals to be visibly out during more hostile times. Kemp reflected on the changes since then, recalling how older members of the community were once subject to hostility, including being spat at during marches. “For a lot of probably older LGBT people like myself... we are going to still come out and celebrate and show who we are,” he said.

In terms of security, Sussex Police have deployed armed officers as part of their standard safety measures, in response to the attack in Berlin and the scale of the event. Firearms officers are among uniformed and plainclothes personnel providing security. The police described this as routine for an event of Brighton Pride’s size, which expects to attract approximately 300,000 participants and spectators, with up to 450,000 people anticipated across the city during Pride festivities.

The organisers emphasized that while the Berlin attack remains a sobering reminder of ongoing threats, the community’s commitment to Pride and visibility remains unwavering.