Living our lives the way we want to
We are proud to be a part of Brighton & Hove Pride!
Our vision is a society where everyone with a learning disability and all autistic people – including those from our LGBTQIA+ community – can fulfil their dreams and wishes, are respected as equal citizens, and are part of, and contribute to their communities.
Read on about this year’s parade and why we say we are: ‘Still fighting to be me‘!
This year’s Pride Community Parade
We are really excited to be taking part in this year’s Brighton & Hove Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade on Saturday 2nd August. This year’s theme is ‘Ravishing Rage’.
Look out for the Grace Eyre team as we march with our friends Amaze, Team Domenica, Brighton & Hove Speak Out and Sambalanco, a samba band from Hastings.
We will be waved off from Hove Lawns at the start of the parade around 11:00 am.
Please see the Brighton Community Pride Parade web page for more information including a parade route map.
Please come along anywhere on the parade route to show your support!
You can also read this year’s accessibility information from Brighton and Hove Pride.
Still fighting to be me
Design created by Joe Bolingbroke
This Brighton Pride, we are excited and proud to be one of four partner organisations – along with Amaze, Brighton & Hove Speak Out and Team Domenica – walking together in the Community Parade to increase representation of people with a learning disability and/or autism.
As always, we will celebrate the occasion with joy but, in keeping with Brighton Pride’s theme of ‘Ravishing Rage’, will also honour Pride’s roots in protest.
At a time when LGBTQIA+ people are still fighting for equality in many parts of the world and when queer people’s existence is still often questioned, especially when also disabled or neurodiverse, we stand united.
Disabled communities in the UK currently face additional challenges due to proposed benefit reforms, meaning living an equal and able life is becoming ever more difficult.
We want all the people we support, represent and/or work with to thrive and be celebrated so, on 2nd August, we will raise our voices together to tell the world that, for all these reasons, we are: ‘Still fighting to be me’.
By doing so, all four organisations will proudly support and amplify the voices of people with a learning disability and/or autism – including those who are also part of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as the wider LGBTQIA+ community – many of whom are still fighting to be seen, heard and accepted for who they are.
The Design
Joe (R) with his fiancé Gary
Our ‘Still fighting to be me’ design was created by Joe Bolingbroke, one of the volunteers in Grace Eyre’s Purple Productions events team.
Joe combined the progressive Pride flag with a striking lightning bolt shape to reflect how we are combining the celebration and protest elements of Pride.
Joe, who also performs as Rainboy, will be taking part in the parade with his fiancé, Gary Graham.
Joe said:
“Being in the Brighton Pride Parade with my fiancé Gary and Grace Eyre is always a joy and pleasure, to do as I wish to show that you can be a proud gay and neurodiverse person. Always remember to let your true colours shine through and let no one take away your sparkle.”
Grace Eyre and Pride
Our participation in Brighton Pride reflects our Charter point that says we want the people we support to be able to have strong, supported and happy relationships of their choosing.
The Grace Eyre vision and way we work also relates to Pride through:
- Understanding intersectionality
- Pronouns and language
- Equity for all
To read more about this, click below.
