This year’s Brighton & Hove Pride Parade will build a stronger bond between Grace Eyre and three other learning disability charities; St. John’s College, HeartVenture, and Speak Out. We are joining forces to represent the disabled LGBTQ community and to make sure that ‘strong and supported relationships’ for people with learning disabilities are at the forefront of the UK’s biggest Pride Festival. Here’s why:
Staff, volunteers, people with learning disabilities, and family and friends of Grace Eyre can’t wait to hop aboard the bus once again in the Brighton & Hove Pride Parade in 2018! As an employer and as a service provider, Grace Eyre is proud to celebrate and champion diversity. Most importantly, people with learning disabilities tell us that they ‘want strong and supported relationships’. Pride gives us the chance to work together with other charities, so we can all stand together and shout loudly about the importance of relationships of all kinds to people with learning disabilities. Lynn Stevens, Grace Eyre
Speak Out is very proud to run a self-advocacy group for people who identify as being LGBTQ. The group meet in the community and talk about things that interest them and give people with learning disabilities an opportunity to meet other LGBTQ people and to access LGBTQ community venues and services. We look forward to having a great day with Heart Venture, Grace Eyre and St Johns College as well as celebrating with the community. Cat Souter Speak Out
Three years ago, I stood in the crowd with my husband Barry and son Daniel cheering on the participants of the Pride parade when it occurred to me there was an absence of any floats or entries representing adults with learning disabilities and vowed to correct this. This year we are so excited to be sharing the day with likeminded organisations. In all there will be 70 of us, 40 on the bus and 30 walking! Our colour theme this year is Blue and Glitter in abundance, together we will be celebrating diversity and inclusion for everyone regardless of ability. Carol Wakeford, HeartVenture
This is the first year we have been involved and we are embracing it. With Disability Pride a couple of weeks ago we are hitting Brighton Pride, strong in numbers and showing the full extent of diversity our city has to offer! We are looking forward to a day of fun in the community with our partnered charities but holding our strong message. Emma Millar, St John’s College
Everyone will be dressed in blue and sparkles, dancing the morning away on and around a double decker bus adorned with the charities’ logos! Make sure you keep an eye out and give us a wave and cheer!
Getting into the rainbow spirit at Pride
See all our photos from last year’s parade