The current chair of the Brighton Pride, Yvonne Barker, has announced that she is stepping down from her position as well as resigning from the board of trustees.

Both will occur with immediate effect, with a statement seen by the Pink News stating that Barker accepted responsibility for the breakdown in relations between Brighton Pride and local businesses and community groups, but says that she stood by the position of the board that the event needs to refocus on what the LGBT community needs.

Announcing earlier this year that there was a £50,000 budget deficit, Brighton Pride has been struggling with both financial and organisation issues with Barker acting to accuse some “aggressive individuals” of trying to profit from the event.

Believing there is a need for a more “open and transparent” process concerning accounting and tendering, Barker also said the tactics adopted by a small number of business and press representatives in the press and online was shameful and that they were not the kind of people to be playing a part in the event, something that she hopes that by the 2010 Pride putting the focus back on the LGBT community and away from commercial gains will occur.

Robert Clothier, the current Vice Chair will now stand in as the acting chair.

Photo by Dominic’s pics.