Knowsley to hold vigil marking 18 years since the murder of Michael Causer

Knowsley will come together on Sunday, 2nd August, to remember Michael Causer, the 18-year-old killed in a homophobic attack in 2008.

The tragedy of Michael’s passing, alongside a series of other high-profile homophobic attacks that year, led directly to the return of Liverpool Pride in 2010, after more than 15 years without one, following an outpouring of community anger and grief. 

Eighteen years on, the vigil that began as an act of remembrance has become a cornerstone of Pride across the region, a reminder of where it came from and why it still matters.

Racheal Jones, One Knowsley CEO, said:

“Michael was eighteen years old, and he lost his life for being who he was, and out of that grief, the community refused to stay silent. That refusal is what built Pride across this region, and it’s what brings us together every single year since.

This vigil is, and always will be, a place for our wider community to come together, to reflect in a safe space. We remember Michael, and everyone who’s been a victim of hate, together.”

Michael’s story matters more than ever this year, as homophobic rhetoric, attitudes and hate crime rise across the country, with many within the LGBTQ+ community genuinely fearful for the future.

Police-recorded hate crimes based on sexual orientation have risen 20% over the past five years, and trans hate crimes by 50%, with LGBTQ+ support charity Galop seeing a 60% rise in people seeking help in the last year alone.

This vigil stands as a reminder of what happens when a community comes together.

Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council, said:

“The senseless murder of Michael Causer will never be forgotten in our borough. It feels as raw and as shocking today as it did all those years ago. This vigil is an opportunity to celebrate Michael’s life and show the support we have in the borough for the LGBQT+ community.

What happened to Michael should never happen again. We celebrate inclusivity in our borough and we want everyone in Knowsley to be accepted for who they are.”

This year, the vigil also opens a week of Pride activity across Knowsley, building to the borough’s Pride showcase on Saturday 8th August.

The vigil will take place in Courtyard at Court Hey Park, from 6pm on Sunday 2nd August, and is open to all members of the community, marking the beginning of Knowsley Pride, a week of community-led events across the borough culminating in Rainbow in the Park on Saturday 8th August.

Find out more about One Knowsley here.

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