After introductions from chair of Student Pride, Tom Guy, and the cutting of the tape by The right worshipful the Mayor of Brighton & Hove City Council, Councillor Ann Norman (try saying that without your notes), Student Pride 2010 was officially open.

Superstar local drag act Billie Lewis kept everyone entertained in the early part of the afternoon with a little pop interview with Girls Can't Catch and introducing comedy from Rosie Wilby, Jarred Christmas and Suzi Ruffell before the first of the two panels took to the stage.

Classic FM/Gaydar Radio's Jamie Crick hosted the first 'celeb chat' panel with Robbie Jarvis (James Potter in the Harry Potter films), Gerry Stergiopoulos (Big Brother 8), Qboy (DJ & artist), trans activist Persia West and MEP and leader of the Green party Caroline Lucas. The conversation was lively and thought-provoking - as expected from such a diverse panel.

The everso glam Trudi Styles strutted onto the stage next with songs, gentle jibes and comment to tickle and amuse the audience before the main act of the afternoon - the political question time panel.

Chaired by GTs editor Tris Reid-Smith and presented in association with PinkPaper.com the panel included Conservative shadow cabinet minister Nick Herbert, Juliet Williams for the Liberal Democrats, Peter Tatchell representing the Greens and OutRage and someone who wasn't Chris Bryant for Labour (we'll update this with his name as soon as we find out!). The debate ended on a discussion of the blanket ban on gay blood. Peter Tatchell rounded upon the Conservatives and Labour for not backing an end to the ban when the evidence from around the world indicates that a blanket ban is straightforward discrimination with no scientific basis any more… Nick Herbert said that the Conservatives would wait and see what the latest scientific report had to say before making a decision. The audience wasn't buying it…