Trans Pride Brighton returns in person with city centre parade

Activists and people from the LGBTQ+ community waved banners and flags and chanted slogans to show their solidarity with transgender people and to call for equal rights.

Trans Pride Brighton, the first and largest event of its kind in Europe, marked its tenth annual event with its eighth march through Brighton and Hove, with disruption caused by the pandemic causing planned events in 2020 and 2021 to be cancelled.

Flags were flown and banners held as the parade made its way through the city

The parade set off from Jubilee Square at midday, before passing down North Street, around the aquarium roundabout and down past Brighton seafront, ending at Brunswick Square for an afternoon of celebrations.

Visitors to Brighton Palace Pier and the seafront lined the streets and took pictures as the parade passed by.

Trans flags, as well as the Pride Progress flag, the intersex flag and others were flown by those taking part in the parade - with banners reading “Trans liberation now”, “Trans women belong in sport” and “We will always be here”.

One banner criticised foreign secretary Liz Truss for her role in reforming the Gender Recognition Act

One banner also criticised Conservative leadership contender Liz Truss, who was involved in reform of the Gender Recongition Act.

With an image of the foreign secretary depicted as the devil, the banner read: “Form a government? We can’t even Truss her to reform an act.”

One of those joining the marchers, Emily, was attending Trans Pride for the first time.

Ellie attended her first Trans Pride march earlier today

She said: “It’s really good - it’s so nice to be surrounded by people like me and it’s nice to know we’re not alone.

“We continue to fight and today’s event reminds us we are not alone in that fight.”

Also taking part in today’s parade were representatives from the Green group on Brighton and Hove City Council, including council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty and deputy leader Hannah Clare.

Councillor Steph Powell, who co-chairs the tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee, was also present at the march and said: “In recent months we have witnessed in horror an increasing tide of hate towards the trans community.

“Brighton and Hove is a diverse city, where we champion equality and inclusion for all. We fully support our trans community. Trans rights are human rights - it is not a debate.

“I’m proud to be joining the trans and non-binary communities at this year’s Trans Pride and we are proud of our continued commitment to trans equality.”

One person in the parade wore a Mandalorian helmet from the Disney show and carried a figurine of "Baby Yoda"

Headlining today’s park event is Travis Albanza, a trans performer and writer, who said it was “a pleasure” to be back at the event.

Travis said: “Right now the transgender community are facing such extortionate and unnecessary targeting, so days when we come together to protest and celebrate ourselves are needed.”

CEO of Trans Pride Brighton Sarah Savage said that it has been empowering to be able to organise an event that everyone can come to and reconnect at, after the last two events were held digitally.

Sarah said: “Trans Pride is about community, finding friends and connecting with family - and that can only be better in person.”

Brighton and Hove Pride, which celebrates the city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community, takes place at the start of next month - with a parade set to feature businesses and organisations across the city.