Brighton Pride cancelled for a second year due to coronavirus
"We are heartbroken," say organisers.
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Chris Jepson
Brighton Pride has been cancelled for 2021, organisers have confirmed.
A series of parties and events were due to take place on 7 and 8 August 2021, but news of the cancellation was posted to the festival’s Twitter account this morning.
The move follows the axing of the 2020 event, again due to coronavirus fears.
“We cannot risk the health and wellbeing of Pride visitors, residents and the hundreds of staff”
Today’s statement reads: “We are heartbroken to have to announce the cancellation of Brighton & Hove Pride’s Community Parade, Pride Village Party and Pride Festival on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th August 2021.
“The need for community has never been stronger and Brighton & Hove Pride is one of Europe’s biggest Pride Festivals attracting thousands of people from across the UK to attend multiple events across the city.
We are heartbroken to have to announce the cancellation of Brighton & Hove Pride’s Community Parade, Pride Village Party and Pride Festival on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th August 2021.
You can read the full announcement here: https://t.co/VqJ9viE6Xs pic.twitter.com/5z82tWrEF9— Brighton & Hove Pride (@PrideBrighton) May 5, 2021
“We cannot risk the health and wellbeing of Pride visitors, residents and the hundreds of staff who work at the event site to keep everyone safe so we are devastated to have to cancel for a second year.”
A Brighton & Hove Pride rep added on Instagram: “Delivering Pride requires an all year-round planning cycle working closely with our partner agencies and, while the vaccine rollout continues to be successful, the many uncertainties that need to be resolved to safely deliver mass gatherings and the complexities of organising Pride in our City are impossible to achieve in the time we have, so based on the best information available to us at this time we are heartbroken to have to cancel for a second year [sic].”
Elsewhere, UK Black Pride have confirmed a digital slate of events for their 2021 festival in July, while Manchester Pride recently announced headliners for its downsized physical event in late August.