Welcome to A Love Letter To… – a new We Love Brighton series celebrating the places, people and moments that our writers and readers adore. From libraries to lidos, if there’s a corner of Brighton & Hove you love, we’d love to hear from you. Fancy writing your own love letter? Get in touch at hello [at] welovebrighton [dot] com. Here, Valentina Infante Willson writes about Trans Pride Brighton.
Why is Trans Pride so important right now?
Trans rights are human rights. A trans woman is a woman. A trans man is a man. What do we want? Trans rights! When do we want them? NOW! These are some expressed guidelines of the Trans Pride Brighton on July 19, 2025.
A few days earlier, a friend of mine told me about Trans Pride Brighton. As a Chilean artivist and defender of women’s, childhood’s, LGBTIQNB+ communities, I wanted to be part of it, I wanted to be there. That day I completely forgot it. My mind, my forgetful mind. That morning, I was walking around with a friend who came to visit me. To be honest, I could sense something in the air that day, I felt powerful vibes. I saw people ready for the parade and then it came to me again: Yes, it is today! My friend was leaving Brighton, so I went with him to the station, then I checked my phone and I had a message from a friend of mine: Are you coming? Send you my location. I joined the parade and do you know what? How well and safe I felt. It was emotional to observe a lot of people together, families, friends and animals walking around. It was a sea of colours, shouting, singing, dancing, drumming, and waving flags. What a relief, what a breath.
Then, all of these reflections and questions came to me: It is impressive to see so many people in this small city walking and raising voices for the same aim. / How was it last year? / How is it going to be next year? / This is just beautiful. / What about the other cities of the United Kingdom? / What about Trans Pride in other countries? However, at the same time: How is this possible? People demanding justice just for being people, people demanding rights just for being people. It is so challenging for our trans sisters, brothers and folks. It has been unfair and painful for years and years. This is still a huge issue, there are still trans people and gender diversity being violated, unrespected and killed. And this is happening everywhere. How? If everyone deserves freedom. How? If everyone is a person. How? If everyone needs to respect and be respectful. How? If everyone deserves love. That is why it is important to continue this fight. Together is better than alone. The huge community raising voices and bodies is here. It says: Stop, we exist, we breathe, we are people with bodies and souls, just like everyone else.
This was my first time at Brighton Trans Parade and also my first time attending a Trans Pride Parade. I have been living in Brighton for a few months and I feel grateful and impressed for that day. It was a day full of activism, love and activities. We enjoyed being together, walking together, dancing together, drumming together and also an afternoon full of performances and music.
Something that touched my soul was seeing people hugging each other, feeling love and respect, being hand to hand, eyes to eyes, whichever ages or backgrounds are, together, everyone together, defending and demanding trans and gender diversity rights and lives.
Trans Pride Brighton started in 2013 with the aim of inspiring all trans, intersex, gender diversity and queer people to make a real difference, promoting equality and diversity by educating, eliminating discrimination, and celebrating trans and queer lives. Year by year it is getting bigger, which is a powerful sign. More people, families and folks of all ages, languages and cultures are joining this huge aim, providing a safe space to make visible trans and gender diversity lives.
Brighton is a city full of awareness. Brighton is diverse. Brighton is diversity. One of the reasons people move to this city is because it has a reputation for being trans and queer friendly, so everyone can feel safe and accepted.
More than 30.000 people joined the Trans Pride Brighton this 2025.
How many people are going to join next year?
Read more: A Love Letter To… Jubilee Library
