The parade and concerts, headlined by Christina Aguilera to a sold-out audience on Saturday and Paloma Faith on Sunday, mark the return of the LGBTQ+ celebration for the first time in three years after the last two were canceled due to Covid. The event, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, was expected to attract up to 300,000 people on Saturday. The parade started at Hove Laws at 11am, winding its way through the town’s streets with rainbow flags. There were also people wearing yellow and blue flags and calling for peace in Ukraine. Among them was gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, who tweeted: “At @PrideBrighton in solidarity with #Ukraine against Russian aggression.” He also spoke out against the Commonwealth, which he said was a “bastion of homophobia”, calling for “an end to the criminalization of LGBT people in 35 Commonwealth countries”. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST Aguilera, who also performed at Los Angeles Pride in June, is among dozens of acts who will take to the Preston Park stage this weekend for We are Fabuloso. Other performers include Ella Henderson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Björn Again and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK stars Tia Kofi and Bimini. A spokesperson for Brighton Pride said: “2022 will be a joyful commemoration of the brave pioneers, activists and supporters who shaped the Pride movement in the city and helped us achieve the LGBT+ equality we all enjoy today.” The first Brighton Pride was held in 1973 but did not return until 1991. It usually attracts crowds of around 250,000. This weekend also marks the 50th anniversary of the town’s first march, organized by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front. Paul Kemp, a Pride organizer, told the BBC: “It’s been a very long wait, but we’re finally here. We are very excited to be back.” The event, which includes a community parade and village party, has previously headlined Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue and, due to Covid, two canceled performances by Mariah Carey. Peter Kyle, the Labor MP for Hove and Portslade and shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, tweeted: “#BrightonPride was amazing!”