🛹Drag queen protest, skate park request, joy at return of Pride expressed and more🏳️‍🌈

Good morning, and welcome to the Brighton Seagull and this week's Monday Briefing! We're still recovering from Pride, so we're going to keep this short: it's news time.

Pride is back, baby!

In case you weren't around, Brighton celebrated its 30th Pride at the weekend after a two-year hiatus.

The usual floats for charities and businesses trawled the streets from Hove Lawns to Preston Park, where this year's festival, titled We Are Fabuloso took place.

There was also a delegation of 50 people from Ukraine Pride, both in the parade and on the main stage at the festival.

A Seagull favourite was the tribute to George Montague, the 'oldest gay in the village' who died in March and was a tireless gay rights campaigner.

An estimated 250,000 people were in the city to celebrate Pride, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the first march in the city organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front.

Campaign for Whitehawk skatepark starts with skating event

A free event was held in Whitehawk on July 31st to start the campaign for a skatepark, organised by Skate Life Brighton.

Attendees received free skate lessons at the mobile skatepark in City Academy, as the community group organisers hope to raise £500,000 to build a skatepark.

Evie Martin, Park Life Brighton co-chair, said:

Honestly I am absolutely chuffed for the kids, they put their heart and soul into today. They really pushed themselves with the skateboarding.

A massive thank you to The Healthy Lives Team, for supporting and facilitating this free community event, we even had a go ourselves and noticed the head of City Academy having a few goes, showing us his skateboarding skills and tricks.

It was a fun day.

A public consultation survey is open until the end of summer, gathering thoughts from people on the potential skatepark—especially those with a BN2 5 postcode.

Initial responses show that people value the exercise and community aspect of skating.

Park Life Brighton was founded in 2018 by young mothers, with the aim of improving facilities for the community including playgrounds, parks and other outdoor spaces. Since it was formed they report that the local authority has invested £3.2 million in playgrounds and parks.

Park Life Brighton reports from 2020 ONS figures that 28% of the estimated 4,666 Whitehawk residents are under 18, or 1,400 people.

The estimated number of children living in a low income family in Whitehawk is 41% (based on 2016 ONS figures).

To fill in the survey, click here.

🖋 News in Brief 🖋

• Albion in the Community has reported a 55% increase in girls registering for football sessions compared with this time last year, off the back of the England women's team winning the Euros last month. To book a course with the group, click here.
• The council is asking people with 'lived experience' of disability to help it develop the city's first 'accessible city strategy' via disability panels. To apply to become a panel member, or to find out more, email [email protected] or call 01273 291952 by Wednesday 31 August.

What's happening? Protestors from right-wing conspiracy group Patriotic Alternative were faced with anti-protest protestors at libraries across the city on Thursday. Protests were held at Jubilee Library in Brighton, Carnegie Library in Hove and Woodingdean Library, with the Woodingdean event being called off.

What were they protesting? Drag Queen Story Hour, an event held by drag queen and author Aida H Dee, or Sab Samuel, which involved his reading stories to children.

How many people attended? By midday, it was reported by attendees that hundreds were there in solidarity with the event, outnumbering the protestors opposite them.

Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle was also in attendance at the Woodingdean protest, and said:

Drag queen story time seems like a great idea.

We have had drag queens in panto for generations and it’s a British tradition with some jokes that are sexual but not inappropriate.

I’m delighted these British traditions are being rolled out to libraries.

What they want is to import some kind of American culture war, these protesters against this, some capitalist American monoculture rubbish.

This is about the beautiful diversity that we see in Britain and Europe and all over the world.

What were the protestors' objections? Those against the event said it is not appropriate for drag queens to read books to children, saying that it was sexualising children. They were also protesting the use of masks.

What did the council think? Brighton and Hove City Council said:

Brighton and Hove is a diverse and welcoming city. We are proud of our commitment to championing equality and inclusion.

Parents who have attended performances at other libraries across the country and in Brighton and Hove libraries have shared very positive feedback about the event, its suitability for younger audiences and their children’s enjoyment of it.

The nature of the event is clearly advertised. We believe it will attract those who feel comfortable and positive about its content.

We are also pleased to note that many more people – including Labour members and Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle – turned out to support the events than the small group of misguided protesters who objected to them.

Can I do anything to help? Attend future counter-protests, attend the events if you can and show your support!