Gscene Magazine Gscene - January 2013 | Page 6

6 DAILY NEWS UPDATES ON WWW.GSCENE.COM REVENGE STEP ASIDE WITH PRIDE Following the collapse of Pride Southeast Ltd who organised Pride till 2011 with debts of over £250,000, Michael Deol and Robert Webb created a Community Interest Company (CIC) to payroll and finance Pride 2012. In order to guarantee the event went ahead, both Mr Deol and Mr Webb agreed to personally underwrite the finances of Pride in 2012. Pride 2012 was considered a huge success and for the first time in 10 years £31,000 was donated by Pride organisers to benefit local LGBT and HIV organisations. These donations were distributed to local LGBT/HIV organisations last month by the Rainbow Fund through their grants program administered by the Sussex Community Foundation. A further £40,000 has been lodged with the Rainbow Fund as seed funding for next year’s event and who organises it. PAUL KEMP Michael Deol, said: “We had a wonderful time during the last 10 months organising this world class event and I would like to thank everyone who helped us pull Pride 2012 'out of the bag'. At Revenge we are immensely proud that our efforts have led to funding over the next year for such LGBT/HIV projects as Allsorts, MindOut, Sussex Beacon, LGBT Switchboard, Lunch Positive and GEMS to name a few. It was a huge responsibility taking the event forward and we wish Pride 2013’s organisers every success in supporting the LGBT voluntary sector. Pride belongs to the people of Brighton & Hove and whoever has the privilege to organise it each year carries a huge responsibility and not only the expectations of the 35,000 LGBT people who live in the city but the many thousands who visit us during the event each year and bring millions of pounds into the local economy.” Paul Kemp, speaking for the new organisers, said: “Last year’s Pride proved that with everyone working together as a community great things can be achieved. Pride finally t