Brighton Pride announces 2021 ‘Over the Rainbow’ parade will celebrate the NHS and key workers

Brighton Pride 2021 will have an “Over the Rainbow” theme, celebrating heroic NHS staff and key workers.

Queer people across the UK were elated when Mariah Carey was announced as the headliner of this year’s Brighton Pride.

But their tears of joy quickly turned to ones of sadness when the event was cancelled last month.

Organisers joined other Pride festivals up and down the country in cancelling due to the outbreak of the highly contagious virus — but they are already looking ahead to next year.

Brighton Pride organisers announced Monday (May 11) that its 2021 parade will have the theme “Over the Rainbow” and will celebrate the NHS and frontline workers.

Brighton Pride will be back with a bang in 2021.

The parade will take place on August 7 of next year and will shine a spotlight on the incredible key frontline workers and community groups keeping people safe through the pandemic.

“The parade will highlight the terrific work and sacrifice made by NHS and key frontline workers as well as the essential community organisations that provide so much support throughout the year,” a statement from Brighton Pride said.

Paul Kemp, Director of Brighton & Hove Pride added: “The Pride parade has always been such a vibrant and colourful event that brings our communities together to celebrate diversity, inclusion and our unique city.

“‘Over the Rainbow’ celebrates the hope, spirit and unity of all our communities and we sincerely hope that Pride 2021 will be a time for everyone to come back together to celebrate our communities, amazing NHS Staff and key workers.”

Organisers said they were ‘shocked and devastated’ by the spread of COVID-19.

The announcement comes just weeks after parade organisers called off this year’s event due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

Fans were left heartbroken as gay icon Mariah Carey was set to take to the stage at the festival. Brighton Pride organisers have not yet released details of next year’s headliners.

“We are shocked and devastated by the unprecedented turn of events over the past weeks – especially the catastrophic health and economic impacts this pandemic is having on members of our community,” Brighton Pride organisers said in a statement released last month.

“But after carefully monitoring the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic and evaluating the ongoing risks and uncertainty, as well as the additional pressure any large event puts on the emergency services, we have taken the very difficult decision to postpone this year’s Pride FABULOSO Anniversary celebration.”