Thousands attend Brighton Pride parade

A whopping 400,000 people attended the annual Brighton Pride parade yesterday (August 5).

The parade featured activists, floats, campaign groups and the entire day culminated in a record-breaking performance by Britney Spears in Preston Park. 

Meanwhile, the parade, which began at Hove Lawns at 11 am and travelled through the city centre, celebrated the 40th anniversary of the rainbow flag with the theme ‘Colour My World’. The colours of the rainbow flag were seen throughout the city. 

Current mood #BrightonPride pic.twitter.com/FiXYi2kNgb

— Ben (@benleto) August 4, 2018

Rainbow banner on the beach, made with bottlecaps #Brighton #brightonpride pic.twitter.com/nz5pBaFUE1

— brian warren (@brightonwarren) August 1, 2018

JUST IN: An estimated 300,000 people have gathered in Brighton for this year’s @PrideBrighton #BrightonPride pic.twitter.com/4cFvZH8fkY

— gtenmedia (@gtenmedia) August 4, 2018

Everyone looking fabulous in the #Brighton sunshine for the #BrightonPride Community Parade! #ColourMyWorld pic.twitter.com/XdX3EJ6B1T

— Brighton Pride (@PrideBrighton) August 4, 2018

An empty open-top bus made an appearance during the parade, highlighting that not one of the top 500 Premier League football players are out. 

Scenes as our bus passes our shop at #BrightonPride. #ComeOutAndPlay pic.twitter.com/ucJxsR31mb

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 4, 2018

The police also joined in by wearing rainbow coloured uniforms and decorating their cars with a Pride theme. 

This year @sussex_police #pride car for the parade 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍🌈 #policewithpride #BrightonPride pic.twitter.com/TL2gQAWG8w

— Sussex Police LGBT+ (@SXP_LGBT) August 4, 2018

A cracking day at Brighton Pride. A huge thanks to all of the Surrey Officers who participated and Sussex Police LGBT staff network for organising. pic.twitter.com/BfWQsduHKX

— Clinton Blackburn (@SuptBlackburn) August 4, 2018

Meanwhile, Lewis Bailey, a 14-year-old who was banned from performing in drag at his school’s talent show, was in attendance. Lewis, who is set to perform at DragWorld UK, was invited to perform alongside drag queen Martha d’Arthur on the cabaret stage in Preston Park. 

The fabulous @TheAthenaHeart talks to @SkyNews ahead of performing with the also fabulous @MarthaDArthur in the Legends Cabaret Tent at #BrightonPride at 5.25pm. Athena Heart’s mum is fabulous too! #loveis pic.twitter.com/atqEgyQGZr

— Brighton Pride (@PrideBrighton) August 4, 2018

Sadly, the night came to an end in disruption. Huge crowds were pictured outside Brighton train station after it was forced to close due to overcrowding. According to reports, thousands of Pride-goers were left stranded overnight in Brighton after the train services came to an end. 

Oops you did it again – carnage at #Brighton station following #Britney at #BrightonPride @SouthernRailUK @TLRailUK @PRPcommuters pic.twitter.com/vqIHycNcS3

— Kurt Howard (@Executive_Hires) August 4, 2018