It is clear that people are losing faith at a rapid speed in the organisation of Pride - whether it is justified or not - this saddens us a great deal

Mistakes have clearly been made this year but we believe that everything must be done to ensure that Pride happens in August and we ask that everyone puts all differences aside and pulls together in the final five weeks to make the event happen.

At the moment we live in a world where websites and social networks provide information on events, which reaches more people than it usually would, but this also has a downside where people can freely attack others, as they have, without always truly knowing the full facts.

We are NOT going to achieve a Pride event in Brighton by attacking and being constantly negative.

Businesses need a successful Pride in Brighton and Hove. Voluntary sector organisations need a successful Pride in Brighton and Hove. Everyone who is disenchanted with what has happened over the last year needs a successful Pride in Brighton and Hove.

We can still pull this out of the bag.

The Pride Trustees need to understand the community is their friend not their enemy, and the community needs to see and hear that Pride are making tough decisions in the very best interests of everyone. However, due to the lack of communication people are rightly worried about THEIR Pride and are not feeling this is the case! 

We firmly believe that there is still enough good will within Brighton to make things happen and we think the time have come NOW for us ALL to get together within the next week and talk this through and start communicating once more

Despite Pride’s press releases saying everything is fine at the moment nobody knows what is happening on Preston Park and changes occur on a daily basis - and we are merely weeks away from the event.

Every day appears to be another bad news day for Brighton Pride. If we let this continue there will be no event left to salvage.

We suggest that all the businesses, cabaret entertainers and voluntary sector organisations meet on Tuesday July 6th at 7pm at Envy Club, upstairs at Charles Street, not to kick over what has happened in the past, but to take stock of where we are now and what we can all do to make this years event happen.

People want to know who and what will be on Preston Park on August 7.

People want to know if Pride have enough money to meet their budget.

People want answers. Please want transparency. Only then will the daily new stories of someone else pulling out of Pride stop and we can deliver what James Ledward called for in his speech at the Golden Handbag Show “a Pride with dignity, a Pride with passion, a Pride with respect and most importantly a Pride with integrity.

All our reputations are on the line, not just the Pride trustees.

Don’t let the press headlines be that the LGBT people of Brighton didn’t care enough to save Pride 2010 for future generations.

We truly believe we need to rebuild the public trust and it is without question time for the Brighton community, along with the Pride committee to Unite in what ever form, and look to the future.

We are all wanting the same outcome - a safe and happy Pride in Brighton in 2010. Let's make sure this happens.

Scott Burey aka Drag With No Name
Andy Feest, owner The Queens Arms
Maria Baker, owner The Star Inn