Motown legend Diana Ross performed a “special song” at the 35th Brighton and Hove Pride over the weekend, which she said she had written especially for the occasion.

Appearing as Sunday’s headline act, the 82-year-old US soul star sang the track, which included lyrics like: “Joy, joy, joy, freedom, always be you”, after dedicating it to the audience.

Her set, which spanned her decades-long career, also featured hits such as Chain Reaction, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and Stop! In the Name Of Love.

Ross, whose 1980 tune I’m Coming Out has become a LGBTQ+ anthem, was described as “iconic” by the event’s pride’s managing director Paul Kemp.

Kemp said that, alongside Saturday’s headliner Raye, the weekend’s line-up had “spanned a generation of divas”.

Ross showcased several glamorous outfits, first donning a silver sequinned gown and white feather boa, then a sparkly red dress with ruffles and, lastly, a neon yellow raincoat with black trousers and top.

Earlier in the evening, reunited British band Five hit the stage with their 1998 hit Everybody Get Up.

The first Brighton Pride march took place in July 1973, organised by the Sussex Gay Liberation Front.

But only a small part of the community felt safe enough to take part, organisers said, and Pride did not return to the seaside city again until 1991.

For this milestone year, Brighton and Hove Pride moved to honour early those activists and “remember the courage it took to be visible”.

Some 300,000 people were expected to take part in or watch the community parade on Saturday, while up to 450,000 people were estimated to turn out city-wide for Pride.

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