Life Before Pride: Prejudice, Protests, and Picnics
Queer Heritage South is hosting a conversation between photographer Abigail Dombey and Brighton DJ and archivist Kate Wildblood
A new Brighton event will explore the city’s LGBTQ+ protest history through rediscovered photography and personal testimony.
Queer Heritage South is hosting a conversation between photographer Abigail Dombey and Brighton DJ and archivist Kate Wildblood, reflecting on queer life in the city between 1989 and 1992. The event centres on the discovery of Dombey’s long-lost 35mm slide film collection, captured when she was an 18-year-old working in a local camera shop. Her images document a pivotal period in Brighton’s LGBTQ+ history, from everyday community life to protests on the streets.
Organisers say the discussion will revisit a time marked by “bigotry and fear”, as LGBTQ+ people faced the impact of Section 28, hostile media narratives and the ongoing HIV and AIDS crisis. The free event will highlight grassroots activism during this period, when campaigners mobilised against homophobia and discrimination, helping to shape what would become the modern Pride movement.
Attendees will also be invited to take part by sharing memories, photographs and reflections on Brighton’s queer history. A map of the city will be used to spark discussion about places and moments that have helped define local LGBTQ+ heritage.
Documenting protest histories and community resistance is vital for preserving LGBTQ+ heritage and understanding the roots of today’s rights, visibility and ongoing struggles for equality.
7:00 pm, Thursday 9th July 2026
Location: Ironworks Studios
Tickets: Free, booking essential
more info or to book the FREE tickets here:
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