LGBT pride; 'Gay Pride' is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The word when used in this context is solely used as the antonym of shame, which has long been used to control and oppress LGBT people throughout history.

The modern Pride movement began after the Stonewall riots in 1969, though arguably it started four years earlier, in Philadelphia 1965. On July 4 of that year 40 gay men and women held a demonstration in front of the liberty bell at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. These demonstrations became annual for the years before Stonewall, gradually expanding to other cities including Washington D.C. and New York.

But June 27, 1969 saw the pride movement take a turn.

The stonewall riots were a fundamental step of the gay community fighting back at their oppression. In New York's Greenwich Village, the police decided to raid a gay bar called Stonewall Inn - which was owned by the mafia.

Police raids on gay bars were a regular occurrence through the 1960s, usually with some level of forewarning. However this day the police arrived unannounced, demanding patron identification papers and escorting them outside the business.

Some of these customers decided to fight back, crowds started to build, coins and bottles were thrown. These riots lasted over 5 days, neighbouring communities came together to fight back.

In the wake of these riots two gay activist organisations were formed in New York which concentrated on confrontational tactics.

A pair of newspapers were established to promote gay rights for both men and women and within a few years gay rights organisations were founded across the US and more countries around the world.

One of these organisations was GLF - the Gay Liberation Front.

On June 28, 1970 the first gay pride marches - as recognised today - took place in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York to commemorate the anniversary of the riots.

The concept carried across the pond and on July 1, 1972 the GLF organised UK's first Gay Pride march. The theme was simple; 'Out and Proud'. Only 700 people took part on this march, many within the gay community feared that they would be arrested. Ultimately no-one was, but there was a heavy presence of aggressive police. At this time even same sex kissing in public was prohibited by law, and while the police would have arrested people as a lone couple they could not arrest 700 people together.

Homosexuality was still viewed as an illness. Lesbian mothers still had children taken from them, and through the years police would arrest thousands of men for consenting to gay behaviour. How things have changed!

Back then there was no huge music festival, mass celebration floats nor fanfare, the parade simply proceeded from Trafalgar Square to Hyde Park, culminating in a mass picnic there.

Over the years the nature of Pride changed.

Thousands started to come and celebrate sexuality, huge parties took place and laws in government slowly changed.

In 1992 Brighton had it's first Pride march, which ended on The Level, yet over the years it evolved and grew so the march now ends at Preston Park. Each year Brighton Pride marks itself as the UK's best; an event which attracts over 100,000 people to come and see our beautiful city. Brighton's diversity is perfect for such a celebration and for some people it is always a great day out.

I love Brighton Pride, over the years I've met so many people during this day and feel that Brighton does offer the best pride.

Sadly I fear that people have lost the true meaning of Pride, seeing it as an excuse to party hard and a great opportunity to pick someone up for random sex, with thousands to choose from it's unfortunately not hard. The queues for public toilets are a mile long, so many will be found relieving themselves in the bushes, yet unfortunately you will find the area covered in condoms, and all too often see something you neither need nor want to see!

This is where I lose my pride for Pride; I've met families taking their children to Pride, I feel as a community we should conduct ourselves in a proper manner.
Pride is a day to show our love for people of the same sex, and to show people that we're not sex crazed fiends - the way we are perceived by many homophobic people.

There was a lot of negativity surrounding 2009's Pride in Brighton. The aftermath focuses on several incidents including;
- The bar franchise suffering a loss of £50k during the year
- Many teenagers admitted to hospital for apparent drug and alcohol abuse
- Reports of homophobic abuse in the park
- Pride facing a deficit of £50,000

Brighton Pride may be free to attend but there is such a high cost in running the event that the future of Pride in the city is in jeopardy.

To counter a repeat of the negative outcome last year, plans are being put ahead to make this year's Pride more controlled. For example, a fence around the park would allow for controlled admission and reduce the bringing of alcohol.

It is still unclear what is going to happen to Brighton Pride this year. I hope we can pull together to make this a Pride to remember - being over 40 years since the movement started, I feel it is in the best interest for the gay community and it's progress to do that!

We are now two years from the 20th anniversary of Brighton Pride; what we don't get right now we must get right for 2012. Were it my choice, I'd tie every 'Pride' event in the country together with the simple theme 'Out and Proud' for every gay to be themselves for a day, like the first 40 years ago in London when 700 people braved that day.

Homophobia is commonly accepted as an inevitable part of society, much like there is acceptance of continued racism. It is human nature to have hate as much as it is to love! Over the years I've suffered from verbal attacks; just the other day on Western Road, three presumably straight men walked passed and I overheard one quip "There's your stereotypical type!". Before this, living in Kemp Town an old man once told me I was a "queer bastard" as I passed him by. When I lived in Uxbridge it was so frequent for me to have any name under the sun thrown at me, I've been lucky not to be beaten up!

Things have changed greatly in Britain over the years, things are getting better. Pride is a day we should be able to hold our partner's hand without a fear in the world! This year I hope to hold my boyfriend's hand during Pride, and on this day I'll remember how lucky I am that I can do this - that I don't live in one of all too many countries where I would fear for my life if I did so!