Brighton Lesbian and Gay Pride, 15-25 May 1992, was organised by a small group of people under the name of Pink Parasol. In the run up to the event they produced a leaflet about their plans for Pride, which included the unveiling of a Lesbian & Gay Pride Memorial in the Old Steine. The leaflet announced the unveiling on Sunday 17 May 1992, and made it sound very much like it was a done deal with the council. "Brighton Council has pledged a central site on the Old Steine and has agreed to install and maintain the memorial. The granite slabs from which it is to be made are ready for work to begin. The design and wording has been consulted on and approved. "The memorial is a celebration of our Pride over the last quarter of a century. It is dedicated to the lives of ordinary lesbians and gay men who preceded us, to ourselves, and to the future equality of those who will follow us in this life". When a group of us gathered to attend the unveiling, we were surprised so see there was only a chalk outline of the memorial drawn on the ground, with the design beautifully brought to life with flowers. I’ve been told a number of tales about why it never came to be, from outrage caused by the council donating £5,000 to Pride '92 (partly to enable disabled access in Preston Park), to objections about the Pride memorial being too close to the existing war memorial. Whatever the reason, the Pride Memorial was sadly never realised in anything more than flowers.

To mark World AIDS Day 2024, the Brighton AIDS Memorial was proud to display two embroidered quilt panels and images from the Brighton Cares AIDS Memorial Exhibition held at the Corn Exchange in 1993. This exhibition was made possible with the generous support of the LGBTQ Workers Forum.

A memory of a visit to Brighton Pride 2006 The image text reads: "Brighton Pride 2006 memory An amazing day, walking near Preston Park, celebrating, drinking and embracing everyone. Such a sense of community, a lot of chaps, someone dressed as Elizabeth and partying long into the night. After all memory of a sense of Joy"

Social and peer support group, Sister Act, produced a monthly newsletter in the 1990s and early 2000s for and by lesbians in Cambridge and East Anglia, and this is a scan of one edition. It was a lifeline for a circulation list of 150-200 women of all ages, helping to create a genuine community for closeted gay women and out-and-proud dykes alike, at a time when their lives and concerns were much debated in parliament and the media. I was editor for a while, and lived from one women's disco to the next, meeting partners and friends who would remain in my life for decades. Nowadays I'm experiencing deja vu having to navigate the pros and cons of coming out all over again and finding a new community as a trans man, now living near Brighton.

The Amsterdam Bar, 12 Marine Parade, Brighton 2000

The Queen's Head pub in Steine Street, with its Freddie Mercury pub sign

Before social media or even the internet Freddie Bateman’s Scene 22 was the first port of call for any young queer soul rocking up wide-eyed and hopeful on Brighton’s shores. His cafe/shop /community hub Scene 22 on St James Street delivered every piece of information you could need about LGBTQI+ Brighton life via leaflets in every shape and size you could imagine. Helplines, support groups, club flyers, safer sex information, lubrication, love. Eyes were opened, blushes made, and lives changed. Thanks to a man with a mission to make LGBTQI+ Brighton better for everyone. Thanks to Freddie.

Wildblood and Queenie: The Candy Bar, 129 St James Street 2004-2008

The Candy Bar at Brighton Pride. On the Pride Parade, on Preston Park, on point.

The Candy Bar Brighton 2000-2004 33 St James Street, Brighton Door Policy: All welcome but respecting women a must Music Policy: House / disco / indie / alt / R’n’B DJs: Kate Wildblood & Queen Josephine, DJ Rocket, Ms Annik, Darren Skene, Dulcie Danger, Hollie, DJ Slamma, DJ Philly, DJ Minx and many, many more Co-founders and promoters: Kim Lucas and Rachael Venia Woodgate Flyer Design: Jo Gell & Rachael Venia Woodgate

St James Street Party / Pride Village Party Various moments of joy from St James Street and the Brighton Pride celebrations.

2008-2009 Took place at Envy now Charles Street 8 Marine Parade Brighton Funky Buddha Lounge 169 Kings Road Arches Brighton, Suga Qube, Castle Square, Brighton, Dr Brighton’s, 16-17 Kings Road, Brighton Door Policy: Househeads Music Policy: House DJs and promoters / creators: Mikalis, Bryony Masters, Queen Josephine, Kate Wildblood Flyer Design: Peter Greenwood “Electronic Disco was created by a collective of music lovers with the intention of attracting like minded clubbers for a night of proper house music like it used to be, creating that feeling of unity and smiling faces.” Mike Mikalis

Having met in 1993 it took a while for the law to catch up with our love. We made the best of it - DIY wedding in 1997, Civil Partnership in 2008 but it wasn't until 2015 that we finally made it to equal marriage. But as all good queers should do, we made the most of the journey to equality. Celebrating with our chosen family, dancing and laughing - wedding hats not always optional.

A small feature piece 'Transexual movie' advertising a screening of the film 'Let Me Die A Woman' at Brighton's Continentale Cinema, Sudeley Place, 9 December 1982. This and the accompanying listing come from Issue 2 of The Lavender Letter - courtesy of the Bishopsgate Institute. A review of the film 'Let Me Die A Woman' screened at Brighton's Continentale Cinema, Sudeley Place, 9 December 1982. This comes from Issue 3 of The Lavender Letter - courtesy of the Bishopsgate Institute. This is the concluding paragraph of the review: "The transsexual is far more the sexual outlaw (to borrow John Rechy's expression) than the gay man or woman and a movie like 'Let Me Die A Woman' can serve no purpose other than to titillate those who find humour or entertainment in the anguish of others." The advert for the film comes with the copy: Born a man... Let Me Die A Woman. All true! All real! See a man become a woman before your eyes!

Club flyer for 'endorphine visions' at The Royal Pavilion Tavern, 7–8 Castle Square in Brighton on Monday 14 April 1997. Djs: Sophie, Laylah, Lettuce. Fetish, leather, rubber, pvc, tv, fantasy, cyber, uniforms.