Clarence Mitchell, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Pavilion in 2015, was delighted to attend - and to fly the flag - at Brighton Pride. Clarence, alongside Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven, led Brighton and Hove Conservatives through the parade, to celebrate diversity and equality for gay, bi-sexual and transgender people.
Clarence was particularly pleased to be celebrating the landmark event - now in its 40th year - as there was special reason to be proud this year; the government’s success in bringing into law its landmark Same-Sex Marriage Bill.
“Brighton Pride is the living embodiment of much of Brighton’s cultural and social identity, symbolising as it does the city’s world famous diversity and tolerance of all sexualities. To be able to take part in the march just after equal marriage arrived on the statute book was a wonderful experience, seeing the welcome we were given,” he said.
Clarence was struck by the fantastic atmosphere at Pride and was extremely pleased to be at the forefront of an event which is known around the world, one which embodies Brighton's unique character.
“We had a large Conservative group in the parade, some 60 plus, and we were widely applauded as we marched through Pavilion. It was a great experience on a fantastic day for a city that leads the country, indeed leads the world, in its diversity and tolerance,” he said.
Clarence will be campaigning hard over the next 20 months to ensure the residents within the Brighton Pavilion constituency can choose to elect a Member of Parliament who they can trust to deliver on local issues.