Registration opened this week for the Briton and Hove Pride parade, one of the biggest events on the UK LGBT calendar. The event will take place on Saturday 7 August, at the end of the week-long summer festival. The theme of the parade this year is Pride and (No) Prejudice.

The parade runs from Brighton city centre along the seafront to Preston Park, where various tents, stalls and entertainments are set up. The parade route is lined by tens of thousands of people and the event draws tourists from around the world. Community groups, local businesses and national companies hoping to participate in the parade have until Friday 28 May to apply for a place.

Following the announcement, Pride’s Fundraising and Communications Manager, Judith Manson said: “Not only is it a fantastic way to showcase and celebrate LGBT lives in the City but this year’s theme really gives groups the opportunity to proclaim that discrimination and homophobic and transgender prejudice is never acceptable.”

It has been a challenging year for Pride organisers. Last year’s event led to a £50,000 deficit in funds, blamed on a combination of bad weather, rising costs and the recession. Brighton and Hove City Council helped secure the future of the festival through a £20,000 loan. Further efforts to sustain the event have included staff cut-backs, the cancellation of Winter Pride 2010 and a determined fundraising campaign.

In November last year, the Pride team published a breakdown of costs and clarifying statement regarding the future of the festival. They have been keen to ensure that entry to the event remains free, arguing that, “keeping Pride free is one of the things that has made our Pride so successful and sets us apart from other Prides around the country”. This year, those entering the park will be asked for donations to help fund the event.

For more information and to enter the parade, visit the Brighton Pride website.

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