Trans Pride Brighton (TPB), a charity run by trans people for trans people has grown this year to a week full of events designed for trans people about trans people.
NOW IN its sixth year, over the years the organising team behind TPB has evolved and members change regularly. This year, thirty trans, non binary people and cis allies have helped shape this celebration of gender diversity. TPB strives to represent all members of the trans communities, boosting those who aren’t represented by the mainstream LGBT+ movement and each year they learn and grow, both in numbers and as people.
A TPB spokesperson said: “Each year brings new challenges but that is vastly outweighed by the pride that wells up inside of us when we see how empowered and happy the thousands of people who attend are feeling. We started TPB because the mainstream Brighton Pride event didn’t represent us. Our trans communities needed trans people to stand up and create a space which was safe and actively empowered the weakest amongst us, to raise everybody up and be visible to those who may not be out as trans yet. It’s common for trans people to feel isolated so TPB exists to show that we are not alone, we have a supportive community and we are all loved.
“For trans people, a pride that deals with their own particular needs, and raises awareness of intersectional issues, is absolutely vital. Being involved as something more than just a passive bystander brings a certain vibrancy to the activism that TPB engages in and the event itself gives an extra depth to the feeling of solidarity in the trans communities.
“Six years ago the police wouldn’t let us march off the pavements and now thousands of people stop traffic and take over the busiest roads in Brighton for more than an hour. The event gets bigger every year, but with any growth we must keep in mind our core principles that we are doing things by trans people, for trans people.
“We’re a community which is grossly misrepresented, marginalised and oppressed, and have recently been under constant media attack. Now, as much as ever, our direction is to provide a focal point for trans people to feel proud and to show solidarity with each other. We’re also a platform to highlight the issues we face which is why while some see Pride as a celebration we must always be conscious that it’s a protest.”
TPB organisers are always looking to add events and content that helps people understand and celebrate each other and wants to help the most vulnerable members of the trans communities.
They still need volunteers to help deliver the 2018 event, doing things like stewarding, setting the park up and selling merchandise.
If you want to get involved and help, click here:
Occasionally Trans Pride need permanent committee members to work on specific areas of what they are working on. They are particularly keen to hear from trans people of colour who want to join the committee, so that the charity can be better representative of the issues faced by all the trans communities.
For a complete lineup of events including all exhibitions after parties during TPB, click here:
Here are some of the highlights!
• Trans Pride film event
My Genderation and Eyes Wide Open Cinema team up to present the sixth Trans Pride Film Event, screening a selection of short films exploring a variety of trans lives and experiences worldwide. Awards will be selected by an independent panel of trans people for: Best Fictional Short, Best Non Fictional Short, Best Acting, Best Cinematography, Best Script, Most Engaging Trans Content.
Duke of York’s Picture House,
Fri 20, 6.30–9pm
Tickets from £4-£6.
This is a fundraising event to raise money for Trans Pride Brighton. For more information click here:
• Trans, Non-Binary and Intersex Annual Conference 2018
The third annual Trans, Non-Binary and Intersex Annual Conference is being held during Trans Pride 2018 at the University of Brighton on Thur 19 – Fri 20. The conference seeks to bring trans, non-binary and intersex people, researchers and allies (as well as those who seek to work better with trans, non-binary and intersex people) together in order to work towards making a more trans, non-binary and intersex inclusive society. This year, following feedback from last year, the organisers have linked up with Intersex UK to improve the representation of intersex issues within the programme including a panel discussion, films and Q&A.
Keynote speakers include: Prof Stephen Whittle (Manchester Metropolitan University), Munroe Bergdorf (activist and model) and a panel of speakers from Intersex UK facilitated by Holly Greenbury and Dawn Vago.
The conference is funded by University of Brighton, University of Sussex, Brighton & Hove City Council, Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Group. The event is free for a small number of staff from these organisation and members of the trans, non-binary and intersex communities. A small attendance fee is charged for all other participants.
Registration is open and the event is likely to sell out early. For tickets available from University of Brighton shop click here:
• Trans Pride Season at the Marlborough
As part of its extensive year-long programme of performances and events under the title Growth Spurt, funded by the Arts Council, the Marlborough Theatre presents Trans Pride Season.
The season launches on Wed 18 with:
• Trans Life Drawing workshop at 7.30pm (£5/£5) that aims to combat cis-normativity in figurative art.
• Thur 19 is Trans Pride Art Night with Emma Frankland headlining a mixed bill of performers including Ellie Stamp, Cool Dad aka Katy Jalili and Miranda Porter at 7.30pm (£6/£5).
• Thur 26 is the Lovely Trans Literary Salon hosted by Juno Dawson, acclaimed author of The Gender Games, featuring exceptional writers, including Rhyannon Styles author of A New Girl, at 7.30pm (£9.50/£7.50 concs and some PWYC available).
Trans Pride, The Marlborough, New Writing South and The Centre for the Study of Sexual Dissidence have also commissioned a writer in residence to be based at the Marlborough for the duration of Trans Pride Week.
All Trans Pride Season events will take place at The Marlborough Theatre, 4 Princes Street, Brighton BN2 1RD.
To book tickets online, click here:
• Trans Pride march & main park, event
The 5th annual Trans Pride March (6th Trans Pride event) will assemble at the Marlborough Pub in Princess Street, Brighton on Saturday, July 22 at 11.30am.
After welcoming speeches from the organisers, at noon marchers will head off towards Brighton Palace Pier, turn right and proceed along the seafront to Brunswick Gardens in Hove for the party in the park, featuring music, spoken word and poetry as well as community stalls profiling trans and LGB groups.
No dogs are allowed on the park, except for assistance dogs.
Entry to the park is free but please put a donation in the buckets. These events cost a lot of money to stage.
• Gender swop at the Marlborough
G(end)er SWAP is an LGBT+ clothing outreach initiative that creates safe(r) spaces for gender nonconforming individuals to access clothes: community clothing swaps, pop up locations and travelling workshops for the queer communities.
Check it out at the Marlborough on Sunday, July 22, 11am-2pm.
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