To many, Brighton is known as the ‘gay capital’ of the UK. The city’s vibrant reputation has made it a popular safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community, dating back to the 1930s, in which it flourished as a holiday destination for lesbian and gay couples. Since then, Brighton has hosted countless pride month celebrations and formed a friendly environment where people can express themselves freely. A recent study by University Compare found that 10.7% of Brighton’s population identifies as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, with a large number of this community being made up of university students. Since the early 2000s, the UK has seen a significant rise in the amount of young people seeking higher education, with 24.7% in 2006 jumping to 38.2% 15 years later – and Brighton seems to be full of us.
Alongside this increase comes a growth in Brighton’s nightlife scene, evidently shown as the city secures itself as 2nd in the ranking of ‘friendliest city for students’, with the highest nightlife score of 4.5/5. Included in this data are various lesbian and gay clubbing bars, such as the popular Revenge Nightclub, which is known for fostering inclusivity and prides itself as being the biggest and best LGBTQ+ venue in Brighton. However, even with a plethora of safe spaces being offered to members of this community, University Compare’s study did not award the same praise for the overall safety of the city, ranking it as 26th in a list of 50. Competing against London’s supposed LGBTQ+ safety score of 100%, we must ask ourselves why Brighton has fallen so low, considering its strong historical and cultural connections to the community.
The findings of the study call into question the stereotype that Brighton is one of the most accepting cities in the UK. University Compare is not the only project to dispute the general safety of the city. Corroborating the research is a two year study conducted by a collaboration between the University of Brighton and the mental health charity, MindOut, who have analysed the struggles faced by queer individuals who have recently moved here.
In their project, researchers found that many LGBTQ+ people had sought guidance from MindOut in regards to their declining mental health, social isolation, and shifted sense of belonging. Having moved to Brighton with the expectations that they would experience the ‘safe space’ that has enhanced the city’s reputation amongst the community, many participants felt they had been ‘cheated’ and thus were greeted with disappointment. Furthermore, several participants had felt unsafe and discriminated against due to their sexual orientation, leaving us to speculate how safe Brighton really is for minorities.
Although such research has helped to shed light on safety issues surrounding this community in Brighton, many students at the University of Sussex feel differently about their experiences as young, queer people. Responses submitted to The Badger answering the question ‘What does being queer at Sussex mean to you?’ largely contradicted the negative findings of these research reports. Students reported feeling more comfortable displaying their sexuality in public, knowing they will not be judged or harassed for doing so. Others expressed the strong sense of community surrounding Brighton and the acceptance that comes with it, making us wonder if these experiences are determined by other factors such as age and occupation. While the city has long been celebrated for its energetic and inclusive spaces, University Compare somewhat reveals a dichotomy in experiences. Despite the city’s high ranking in terms of its nightlife and LGBTQ+ venues, concerns about safety persist, indicating a need for better safeguarding of this community. As individual accounts from Sussex students present a contrasting view, it becomes evident that open mindedness amongst the newer generation plays a significant role in shaping the experience of young, queer people in Brighton. The complexity of Brighton’s identity as a ‘gay capital’ calls for a more nuanced discussion that goes beyond generalised assumptions and instead explores the varied experiences of its residents.
