When Pride in Brighton & Hove announced the ticket prices for Pride in 2011 they were met with shock and anger from supporters and the community, unprepared for such a large hike from ‘free’ in previous years to up to £17.50 on the day.

This announcement came with no immediate justification and left members of the local LGBT+ Community (and people from further afield) confused and bemused by the lack of transparency and communication from Pride.

Whether people are saying it publicly or not, we know that a number of community organisations and members have expressed that they won’t be attending Preston Park this year.

Charging for Pride in this way contradicts the ethos of such an event and alienates those who can’t afford it, building a barrier between us and the rest of Brighton & Hove – in this case, literally, with the proposed fencing of the park. We can see through examples at other Prides that charging does not work to meet the charitable aims of being inclusive, supportive and fundraising for the community.

The most well-known of these is Manchester Pride. The year they first charged for entry, they raised NO money for the community. The year after that, Pride went back to being free - and raised £105,000 for local causes. They only recently managed to come anywhere near that total, despite having been charging again now for seven years. There are also various controversies relating to where the money goes to - including the fact that only three or four local groups now receive any funding (and it‘s a pitiful amount), with no Trans groups given any money at all.

Ultimately, charging for Pride in Manchester has excluded young LGBT+ people growing up there and has vanished any traces of political and community significance from it. It’s a drinking festival, not a celebration of our rights - and it in no way highlights any of the issues that our community still faces.

The ticket prices released by Pride in Brighton & Hove have the potential to oppress people of all ages and identities in the LGBT+ community in the same way Manchester has, including students and young people. Brighton thrives on the 30,000+ student community, yet Pride refuses to acknowledge the financial hardships students face both in Brighton and across the UK. These hardships are not just found in the student community, but across all age groups of the LGBT+ community, young people in particular.

This lack of empathy given to the closeted LGBT+ youth is astounding. We would like to know how Pride in Brighton & Hove think a Trans boy, unable to come out to his parents and with no income, is able to raise £12.50 to attend? Or a 17 year old lesbian, estranged from her parents and living in a hostel, is expected to raise the funds?

Pride has since announced that there will be a number of free tickets distributed through community groups - but there is no guarantee that these will actually reach the most vulnerable. Everyone has a different experience of Pride, but for many it is life-changing and life-saving. We need to take into consideration the families who no longer feel the event is accessible for them or their children. The disabled. The homeless. Those living on benefits or pensions. Those living in fear of their identities being exposed where it’s not safe to be out… the list of people affected by these proposals is endless.

Whilst it may have become more of a party than anything else in the eyes of some, it is still essential in showing people that they have a community and they have support, and there are people fighting for their rights. It is complacent to think that we have nothing left to work for.

Pride should represent unity. Some may say it's "just £12.50" but this perhaps suggests a misunderstanding. Those who are 'closeted' and/or unable to get financial support are often those who need Pride most. We all remember a time when we felt lost, alone and closeted. We can relate to these people. They need support. They need the lifeline that Pride provides.

We are not here as free-loading students looking for a free party. We are here to ensure that Pride is a truly community-focused event which is political and supportive, raises funds for community organisations and - most importantly - is inclusive.

It would appear that recently Pride in Brighton & Hove has turned its back on its roots and focused more on drinking, partying and commercialism. If people want to party, we have a large scene with plenty of clubs, pubs and bars, however, partying is not and should not be the main focus of Pride.

We propose a Community led Pride which celebrates the diversity within our community; a Pride which supports our community; a Pride with political elements which highlight the struggle and suffering that LGBT+ people around the world are still faced with and a Pride which is accessible to everyone as a safe, enjoyable and positive example of LGBT+ life.

We don’t know what will happen over the next few weeks, but we hope that the community will work together with us to find a resolution.