Campaigners want Brighton and Hove City Council to recognise the St James’s Street area as a ‘gay village’ for its large gay community.
Calls for this have begun since Liverpool unveiled the rainbow flag on their street signs around the gay quarter.
Campaigners say it will boost tourism around the city, however some believe it could lead to greater exclusion and create a ‘ghetto’.
Editor of Gscene, James Ledward said: “A common complaint from tourists is that people find it difficult to access the gay village when they visit Brighton.
“In Brighton we do have large areas that are very gay but it would give a focus to the gay village of four blocks surrounding St James’s Street.”
Some people do not believe a designated gay village is the way forward though.
Although sad that Liverpool beat Brighton to rainbow street signs, LGBT activist Chris Cooke said: “The last thing we want is a big neon sign at the bottom of St James’s Street – that would do the opposite to what we want to achieve and make the area more exclusive.”
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Cabinet member for communities, equalities and public protection, Ben Duncan said: “We are looking closely at ways we can celebrate the part played by the LGBT community in this city.”
