Michael Denniss

In early-December I wrote the following to the Charity Commission for England and Wales concerning the Pride in Brighton and Hove organisation.
 
"I , along with a large number of other people, both in the Brighton and Hove area and nationally, have serious concerns about the running of the above charity by its trustees.

"The charity which runs Brighton and Hove Pride has acted very badly in the last few months. Questions have been raised over the tendering process for recent contracts awarded by the charity. There have been allegations over the unprofessional conduct of a paid member of staff and also undemocratic decisions made by the trustees on a number of issues - including the ending of grants to local LGBT charities. So much so, that a local politician has called for an independent scrutiny of the charity.

"To date Pride South East Ltd has not responded to these requests. I am writing to you in the hope that you may be able to investigate exactly what is going on at this charity and to take action where appropriate."
 
In the meantime, as I wait for a response from the Charity Commission, things have not got any better where Pride is concerned.

Whatever the opening months of 2010 bring, this has been a PR disaster for Pride. Its reputation, and that of the City of Brighton and Hove, has been badly damaged.

With Pride issuing no official denial of the accusations - fact, fiction and rumour have become blurred in such a way that it is making the 'truth' almost impossible to find. Perhaps that is what some people want. But mud sticks and Brighton and Hove is not a big city where events easily get forgotten. The trustees and staff of Pride appear to have totally lost sight of what they are there for. Ego seems to have overtaken personal responsibility and commonsense. Communication is not 'off the record' comments made by a paid member of the Pride staff with a glass of alcohol in hand.
 
We now have the independent moderator for the Pride business and community forums, Christopher Gull, stating on Facebook that the associated meetings are not public meetings as such. These forums were designed to improve communication!

I am not linked to any business interests or section of the LGBT community my only concern is the reputation of our Pride here in Brighton and Hove; a Pride that at its best offers a shining beacon to those in LGBT communities, across the country and beyond, who still face discrimination in their everyday lives.

Trustees - if you really care about Pride in our great city - and deep down I still think you do - please have a long hard think about your recent actions before it is too late. As one trustee recently claimed: 'Pride is about community and us all working together'