Laine joins forces with Pink Islands Collective to celebrate Brighton & Hove Pride 2024
We're absolutely delighted to have teamed up with Pink Islands Collective for this year's Brighton & Hove Pride 2024 celebrations.
Q. Tell us about yourself?
I'm Mimi, I am a full time DJ based in Brighton! My heritage is Mauritian and I’ve spent the last two years building Pink Islands Collective as a hub for British-Mauritian creatives looking to explore their dual identity through music. We aim to do this within a safe space whilst celebrating our queerness and intersectionality as well as our culture.
Q. So who are Pink Islands Collective?
Pink Islands was born in the lockdown. I was adamant to host a float on the Brighton Pride parade showcasing Mauritian music and dance. I felt like there was a space that lacked within the LGBTQ+ Brighton and UK community that showcases global cultures and I wanted to fill that space with the vibrancy of Indian Ocean music, which has always been a celebration of expression, freedom and has a very rich history to its origins. I wanted a space to be able to honour this history and cultivate a community where other LGBTQ+ British-Mauritian’s can exist, learn from one another and understand how we fit into our ancestors narrative. We are an extremely talented team of creatives, consisting of myself, THEMPRESS, K-MONDAY and BEX. I’ve been very inspired working alongside other DJ’s and producers that share my willingness to reclaim heritage and celebrate it within our current UK club scene.
Q. What are your Pride plans this year?
We hosted the first Mauritian float in 2022, and as far as we are aware it was the first time Mauritius had been represented on a pride parade outside of Mauritius itself. It was a historical occasion, and definitely turned many heads - it was truly special to showcase something that many of us don’t always get the chance to within the queer community and was an important occasion for many reasons. Unfortunately, we were unable to raise the sufficient funds to partake in the parade again in 2023, which was a shame, but we are fortunate enough this year to be collaborating with the wonderful Laine who have been fully supportive of our goals and mission as a collective. We are VERY excited to have our own Pride Beer brewed by Laine where all proceeds will be going towards OUT MORIS, a Mauritian based LGBTQ+ non-profit dedicated to raising awareness for the Mauritian underrepresented LGBTQ+ peoples with an emphasis on trans people and women within the LGBTQ+ community. We will be campaigning for Out Moris who want to share a message from our beautiful island of “Love For All”. Emphasising that there is still work to be done within our communities. Pink Islands are honoured to be working alongside Laine and OUT MORIS bridging the gap between our communities and using the exposure we have on the Brighton Pride parade to share the amazing work that is currently on going in the Indian Ocean.
Q. How did the partnership come about?
I have worked with the Actors in numerous capacities over the last 2 and a half years. I’ve been invited to DJ, hosted the Bamboo NYE takeover and been involved in DJ’ing the street party the last two years in a row with a Pink Islands takeover last year. I am extremely grateful for spaces like the Actors to exist in Brighton, they have never failed to provide not just a safe space but an important community for many of the QTIPOC people in Brighton. I believe that the Actors has always amplified underrepresented artists and grassroots events and done so with authenticity. The Actors has always been a safe space for me personally, and I have never not felt welcomed with open arms when being there whether that be for work or just for fun. Joe and the Actors have been instrumental in our collaboration with Laine this year, Pink Islands has had the utmost support from them from the beginning and I couldn’t be more grateful to be in constant collaboration them whether its DJing or hosting events.
