Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) was delighted to welcome the Carry-On superstar Barbara Windsor MBE to the launch of their float in Brighton’s Carry-On themed Lesbian and Gay Pride event on Saturday 5th August.

The THT float this year, themed as a saucy campsite shower block, was sponsored by Tourism East Sussex (TES).

Barbara Windsor, who joined the THT float for Brighton Pride said: "I'm so excited to be on the float with Terrence Higgins Trust for Brighton Pride. We're having a right Carry-on! And in support of a great cause too."

Over 50 floats, hundreds of look-a-like characters and over 35,000 locals and visitors joined the three-and-a-half mile procession through Brighton to celebrate the gay community and raise funds for THT’s essential services.

Over 100,000 people also met at Preston Park where Terrence Higgins Trust’s Brighton team manned a stand to promote their sexual health campaigns and services and distributed over 10,000 free condom packets with the message ‘CARRY ON...Using Condoms’.

Mick Sykes, Gay Mens Community Worker from Terrence Higgins Trust in Brighton said:
“Summer Pride just gets bigger and better each year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to raise THT’s profile and promote our services locally to thousands of people taking part.

“One in eight gay and bisexual men on the Brighton scene are now HIV positive, so it’s more important than ever that we raise awareness of HIV and our services.”

Sponsors, Tourism East Sussex (TES) supported the Terrence Higgins Trust float as part of its ‘Rainbow Welcome Initiative’ designed to promote Brighton as a destination for high spending LGBT visitors. Tourism East Sussex is promoting cultural attractions and outdoor activities across East Sussex, to encourage repeat visits and extend the length of visitor stays.

(TES) Chair, Nick Head said:
“Events like Pride have a positive impact on the local economy as visitors book accommodation and use shops, restaurants, pubs and clubs. But it doesn’t end there, as many local residents welcome friends and family over the weekend, to take part in the festivities”.

“In sponsoring the THT float we remind local people and visitors that the area beyond Brighton is well worth extra days for exploring the fabulous gardens, castles and historic houses, and enjoying the cultural events and rural walks which we are so fortunate to have on our doorstep”.

Terrence Higgins Trust will also be hosting a Pride funded ‘Jazz in the Square’ event in the heart of the 'gay village' on Sunday 6th August, funded by a Pride grant and supported by the New Steine Hoteliers, who generously donated to the event and raised funds for the charity. The actress Denise Black, who starred in Queer as Folk and Coronation Street will be singing at the event.

Voluntary donations can be made to THT on the day.

Notes to Editors:

• Pride in Brighton and Hove
  Pride in Brighton and Hove is the largest free Pride festival in the UK. The summer festival runs for a week with events happening in most venues each night. The Carnival Parade and main event in Preston Park is on Saturday 5th August, starting from Maderia Drive at 11am. The main event in Preston Park runs from 12noon-8pm click here for a map.
  
• Pride in Brighton & Hove is a registered charity in England & Wales, No. 1105892. Promoting equality and diversity, and advancing education to eliminate discrimination against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. It raises awareness of issues by promoting and staging a series of events including Winter Pride and the annual free summer festival and making grants and/or donations to other charitable and voluntary organisations. Our key objective is to develop an environment in favour of LGBT equality by providing information, advice and support.
  
• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services to over 50,000 people a year.  The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual health.
  
• Tourism East Sussex is a tourism partnership of public and private sector businesses and organisations working together to increase the value of tourism across East Sussex, Brighton & Hove. The partnership has existed in its present format for three years and manages a programme of product development and marketing initiatives designed to offer a quality visitor experience, support for the industry and to grow the economy.
  
• Key TES Initiatives for 2006 include:
  • Enabling a Sussex Gardens stand at the prestigious Chelsea Flower show, which was awarded a commendation for the overall design
  • Developing a “Sussex breakfast” of locally produced supplies
  • Arranging e-marketing workshops so small tourism businesses can compete with larger ones
  • Co-operating with colleagues in Kent on an extension to the successful Maritime Heritage Trail, resulting in European funding for the Volks Railway and Cinque Port Cycle Trail.
  • Tourism East Sussex supported initiatives can be seen at: www.visiteastsussex.com / www.artsinsussex.com / www.gardensnormandysussex.com