Participants of this year’s Pride parade through the city will be urged to “dare to be different” as the theme for the event is announced.

Applications are now open to take part in the annual parade, which sees thousands of people line the streets of Brighton and Hove to celebrate diversity and fight for LGBTQ+ rights worldwide.

While organisers have opted to retain last year’s theme of Love, Protest and Unity, they have also added the added “challenge”, encouraging people to “dare to be different”.

A spokesman for Brighton Pride said: “After the success of last year’s Love, Protest and Unity theme, now more than ever we must continue standing together to campaign for global LGBTQ+ rights.

“We are excited to continue the theme for the Brighton and Hove Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade 2023 as Love, Protest and Unity, with the additional challenge: break the mould, express who you are - your uniqueness, your creativity, your identity. Dare to Be Different”.

More than 300,000 people participate in the “carnival of diversity” every year, with organisations from charities, universities, public services and businesses all invited take part in this year’s parade.

The parade will set off from Hove Lawns at 11am on August 5.