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BRIGHTON PRIDE

CITY ANGELS

CONNECTING BUSINESS AND FESTIVITY Credit © Jim Carey

BY KANE TAYLOR

In Brighton’s Pride Parade, you are sure to welcomed by those concerned about the amount of litter
encounter a mixture of mythical wonders such as left over from last year’s event and an important addition
unicorns, phoenixes and perhaps the odd dragon. to Pride’s sustainability initiatives such as The Big Pride
This year however, the angels have landed… Beach Clean. Members must also be vigilant toward public
safety “by actively reporting any hate crimes or incidents
City Angels is an official non-profit initiative set up to and be supportive of LGBTQ initiatives.”
promote a closer working partnership between Pride and
local commerce. The festival weekend is estimated to Over the last decade, LGBTQ messages, flags and slogans
bring in a coffer busting £20.5m revenue for the retail and have become more visible within commerce. Though
hospitality economy. Businesses that benefit can show this has undoubtedly helped raise awareness within the
their support by becoming City Angels members for an public sphere it has also caused concern about ‘rainbow
annual fee starting at £100. capitalism’ – the exploitation of the Pride message for
financial interest. The City Angels project acknowledges
So much for procedure, but what does it mean to be a City the problem. As an official Pride member, critics are invited
Angel? Pride Managing Director Paul Kemp cast some to seek assurance that by signing up, businesses are
light on some of the benefits of signing up. “City Angels will actively giving something back to the community. “100% of
receive official merchandise including flags, stickers and the profits from City Angels memberships is reinvested in to
digital assets to display in windows, outside and online,” the city and community,” Kemp says. “Whether it is through
he tells me. “They will also be listed on the official Pride reducing waste in event supply chains, The Big Pride Silent
website, in adverts and editorials celebrating City Angels, Disco Beach Clean, sponsoring bins or consumer-focused
the annual Pride magazine and in our City Angel social campaigns to reduce litter – there is plenty to be done.
media campaign.” Focusing our effort means we can bring greater benefit to
everyone in the city.”
2019 will mark the project’s first year in operation. Its
founding members include brands such as Brighton Concerns about commercial exploitation are legitimate but
& Hove Buses, Legends, BHAFC and Hilton Hotel. the project has a supportive aim. City Angels are obliged to
These household names can help build momentum act as guardians to the three principles at the heart of the
by encouraging other businesses to get on board. official organisation: Respect, Pride and Unity. The project
recognises that the strength of these principles relies on a
Its purpose is not solely to create low cost advertising. collective response.
In line with its founding idea – where there is shared
benefit, there should be shared responsibility – Kemp Brighton & Hove Pride is a momentous occasion where
wants a collaborative approach. “There are some who we celebrate diversity and recognise our common cause.
take advantage and don’t contribute to the weekend or The City Angels initiative could be an effective mediator
fundraising” he comments. “City Angels is a response to between the stuffy world of commerce and the free-spirited
this and also to feedback from businesses wanting to get frivolity of a party weekend. However, this is a year-round
more involved with Pride.” campaign so when you buy your next BHAFC season
ticket or hop onto the number seven to the Marina, you can
Pride attracts an estimated 450,000 people into the city be proud to buy into a business that honours the identity of
over the weekend. City Angels members are expected the city that makes it flourish.
to honour the occasion by upholding a sense of civic
responsibility. Kemp says this can be achieved by For more information please visit www.brighton-pride.org/
“keeping the front of their businesses clean.” This will be city-angels

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