There has been an angry reaction to Prides proposals to axe the funfair, the cabaret tent, the Wild Fruit tent, the Calabash and Women's tents on Preston Park in 2010.

Angry supporters of Brighton Pride have joined a facegroup called 'Save Brighton and Hove Pride as we know it.' Over 4,500 members have joined the group to express their opinions on Prides proposals for 2010.

Chrissie Darling from Manchester who set up the group said:
"I read the article on the Gscene website about the proposed cuts at Brighton Pride. I have been coming to Brighton for many years as Pride is my favourite event of the year. I work at Wild Fruit and bring many people from Manchester with me. I love Brighton Pride and don't want it to change into a 'picnic in the park'. I thought I would start a little facebook group which would have maybe one hundred members but it mushroomed to over 3,600 members in a single day. The reaction has been astonishing as Pride's official facebook group only has 1773 members. Clearly people in Brighton do not have a voice when it comes to their Pride. Its a shame because it is the best Pride anywhere."

Members of the new group were not afraid to express their concerns on-line especially about Prides decision not to give money to LGBT groups next year.

Lorna Haddon's view was mirrored by many, she wrote:
"I don't think we should change, or it won't be the big deal that it is....we might as well all stay and have our local prides as it sounds like it would be about the same size! As for not giving to gay charities thats ridiculous!"

Many people expressed concerns that the changes would affect the essential makeup and feel of the event.

Marcus Patrick wrote:
"I know it sounds annoying after the event; but does an organisation that primarily functions around a one week summer festival not make contingency plans for bad weather at all? Sounds like the very things like the cabaret tent, the Wild Fruit tent, are the ones that being dropped potentially. But aren't those integral to the spirit of what makes Brighton Pride so great? A community love in village sounds like shit."

Many people still find it hard to understand why a festival that attracts so many people struggles to balance the books. Michael Stewart wrote:
"This is an event that defines Brighton as a city. The fact that something that draws so many people can not be made to pay for itself is frankly beyond belief. It seems the organisation needs taking away from well meaning amateurs to a more professional footing. This is not a matter of charging through the nose but just working hard at gathering something from everyone."

Confusion was brought to the argument by misleading information being put on line. Local entertainer Nicky Mitchell entered the debate writing:
"The Big Top dance tent costs £50,000. Looking at the figures, Mr Kemp pays £5,000. Someone is making a lot of money and we need to start asking where it all is, and who is making it and out of whom and what do they give Gay Brighton in return. The gay press cannot be relied upon for an impartial view when you take into account the massive advertising revenues at state. Keep the event free by making those who are making the most pay their fair share."

Paul Kemp responded with a robust defence of his support of Brighton and Hove pride for the last 15 years, he wrote:
"Aeon events lost £50,000 this year and has invested a huge amount in Pride over the years!  This year we paid £5,000 in sponsorship and almost £15,000 on top of that on production. Over the last ten years as a small business we have contributed almost £75,000 in fundraising and sponsorship to Pride. The cost of ALL the public entertainment tents paid for by Pride (including the Wild Fruit dance tent, the cabaret tent, the Calabash Tent and line dancing tents cost £37,000 not £50,000. We also paid £12,000 on top for the bars infrastructure. O yes...and of course the adverts in the Pride programme at £500 a time.  I'm more than happy to show you my budgets...any time! Maybe the press should publish the full Pride budgets."

Many people were quick to jump to the defence of Paul Kemp and Wild Fruit. Former 3Sixty editor/co owner and volunteer Pride press officer Jamie Hakin wrote:
"I am utterly appalled over Nicky Mitchell's comments aimed at Aeon Events - organisers of Wild Fruit - which seem to come from that well know gay school of 'a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing'. Anyone who has been inside Wild Fruit's big tent at Brighton Pride will understand the sheer scale of what greets you inside. They will also know that you will not be asked to pay a penny before going inside. It's part of the free event that is Brighton Pride. Jeezus - sometime I really worry about some people. This is a public forum forum not the press, so your always going to get some misguided people spreading false truths. Sorting out trust from fiction is generally meant to be the job of the editor. So I'm told."

Pride trustee Kath Brown weighed into the debate writing:
"There can be no doubt that gay business men, including Paul Kemp, have played a central part of a Brighton Pride. The 'Wild Fruit Tent' still costs Pride money, it can still happen, it just needs to be paid for. Remember the figures here don't include security, ambulance and so on."

Paul Kemp responded by saying:
"There are many entertainment area’s on the park that Pride pay for such as the women's performance tent, Calabash tent, line dancing tent, cabaret tent & dance tent so its totally wrong that Wild Fruit is singled out. Lets be honest it is one of the most popular attractions on the park and many people come to Pride especially for the tent. 

"Wild Fruit sponsor the dance tent the same way Revenge used to sponsored the Cabaret tent, Many areas of the park unfortunately don’t receive any sponsorship such as the women's performance tent & Pride pay for that in full and so they should as it provides diversity to the park. On top of our sponsorship we put in many thousands of pounds in production (those lasers & huge screens don't come cheap) as well as programming all the entertainment including many local artists. Wild Fruit don’t have any income stream from the dance tent.

"Now onto the bars. Aeon operate the bar franchises and pay a large fee to Pride. Aeon Events and our partners pay for all the bars infrastructure (Popstarz, Women's dance tent, Men's tent) as well as ALL security costs. Our overall commitment to the Pride festival is over £100k.

"Pride stated in their press release, Pride will not “Encourage, fund or support all of the infrastructure, entertainment and dance tents and activities previously provided at the main park event.  I’m a member of the community and I’m probably one of the most passionate backers of Pride, having supported Pride since 1993. I just want this almighty mess sorted out!

"Wild Fruit & Aeon events have always supported Pride and have been one of Pride's biggest fundraisers so I find this kind of tittle tattle on line rather unsavoury, considering this year we are Pride’s biggest business investor. Maybe its time for all budgets to be published."

Local entertainer James Shrive aka Cherry Poppin brought the perspective of a performer who happily gives his time to raise money for Pride all year round, he wrote:
"For five years, I have performed at every charity event supporting Pride that I was asked to take part in as Cherry Poppin. Indeed I have even arranged ones. Winter Pride was a pure fundraising event arranged and paid for by the businesses involved, the only costs to Pride being the advertising. I feel that the cuts that have been proposed are merely to "save face" and suggest that these events were costing Pride money rather than the fact that a charity is paying staff costs. Why should members of the community and the businesses involved purposely raise money for charity which then, instead of going towards grants etc, will go towards paying staffing costs? I am now proud to be supporting a free Pride event in my home town (admittedly a much much smaller pride) organised by volunteers, such as myself which doesn't pay inflated salaries to members of staff."

James Gardner summed up many peoples thoughts, writing:
"Let's be clear, the problem this year was really very simple: the organisers didn't do enough to ensure those attending actually contributed towards the cost of the event. I didn't see a single bucket all weekend. Thousands of people pile down from London every year paying a small fortune in train travel, hotels, booze and club entry, 95% of which doesn't go to Pride, but they get into the park for free. Fence it off, put ticket booths on every entrance. Job done."

James Ledward editor of Gscene said:
"I am mortified as to how this issue has been handled. I have told Pride at different times during the last year that their rapport with the community could be better. For a community organisation to be effective there needs to be a dialogue. Prides proposals and the accompanying questionaire on the Pride website have been seen by many as 'a fait accompli'. I was hoping we had left this type of approach behind us when the community last reclaimed Pride in 2002.  There is an event to be organised next year, surely the most important question everyone should be asking is how best to do this?  Its unwise to start that process off by announcing you won't be making grants to our community organisations."

"Pride have assured me that they want to engage in an ongoing consultation process with the community and I will give them the opportunity to put their case in the next Gscene magazine out November 27."

There are hundreds of comments on the Save Pride in Brighton and Hove facebook group. Many appreciating the work that Pride does and supporting the Pride volunteer trustees.
To read them go to:
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=168761661482&ref=ts

If you want to donate to Pride go to:
www.justgiving.com/brightonpride/donate/

To fill in the Pride questionaire go to:
www.kwiksurveys.com /online-survey.php?surveyI D=LIHIN_736b1141