Motown legend Diana Ross debuted a new song written specially for the 35th Brighton and Hove Pride on Sunday, telling the audience the track was composed for the occasion, per bbc.com.
The 82-year-old US soul singer headlined the final night of the festival, performing a set that spanned her decades-long career.
The new song featured lyrics including “Joy, joy, joy, freedom, always be you,” which Ross dedicated to the crowd. Her performance also included classic hits such as “Chain Reaction,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Stop! In the Name Of Love”.
Ross, whose 1980 track “I’m Coming Out” has become an LGBTQ+ anthem, was described as “iconic” by Pride’s managing director Paul Kemp. He said the weekend line-up, which also featured Saturday headliner Raye, had “spanned a generation of divas”.
The singer wore several glamorous outfits during the show, beginning with a silver sequinned gown and white feather boa, before changing into a sparkly red dress with ruffles and later a neon yellow raincoat over black trousers and top.
Earlier on Sunday evening, reunited British boy band Five performed their 1998 hit “Everybody Get Up”.
The first Brighton Pride march took place in July 1973, organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front. However, only a small part of the community felt safe enough to participate, and the event did not return to the city until 1991.
Organisers used this milestone year to honour early activists and “remember the courage it took to be visible”. An estimated 300,000 people were expected to take part in or watch Saturday’s community parade, with up to 450,000 people predicted to attend Pride events across the city over the weekend.
•Featured image: Diana Ross/Raphael Pour-Hashem/BBC