Pride in Liverpool to feature host of mini events spread across city centre in a first for the festival

Pride in Liverpool will look a little different with event organisers saying it will showcase a ‘city full of pride’.

There will be elements of the annual festival spread across the city centre allowing pride-goers to experience the event in a totally unique way.

Based on feedback, the region’s LGBT+ charity has focused on elements that the community have said they value the most including pop-up community performances, family-friendly spaces and a diverse series of ‘fringe events’ around the city. The full programme will be released shortly and it’s not too late for businesses looking to support or organisers of events over the weekend who would like to be part of the fringe programme to register their details via prideinliverpool.co.uk

The new approach to Pride in Liverpool means that everyone attending can make their day unique and reflect what pride means to them; whether taking to the streets in protest, a party atmosphere, or a more laid back experience, they can find or create an itinerary which suits them best. 

Continuing the city’s Eurovision legacy and solidarity with Ukraine, the highlight of the day will see Liverpool play host to Kyiv’s annual Pride march this year. The city region’s annual ‘March with Pride’ is being held jointly with KyivPride, the LGBT+ organisation of the Ukrainian capital as well welcoming Ukrainian delegates and community members from across the UK and Europe.

This year’s theme ‘Shout it Loud’ encourages local LGBT+ people to be proud of who they are. Harking back to the first ever pride marches where standing up and shouting loud for our rights were so important. 

Andi Herring, CEO and Co-Founder of LCR Pride Foundation, said:

“The lives of the LGBT+ community have been under intense scrutiny over the past few years, across the globe. From attacks on Drag Queens and the proposed criminalisation of their livelihoods, to the constant and steady erosion of trans rights perpetuated by governments, media and other organisations. 

“LGBT+ people are a global community, and that’s why it is crucial that we ‘Shout It Loud’ in solidarity with all LGBT+ people across the world. We are honoured to be hosting KyivPride this year and standing alongside the work they do in Ukraine for our community. Of course, it would be hard to forget our reasons behind hosting Eurovision and the lasting bond with Ukraine that will remain with us.

“Our region will be, and will remain to be,  ‘full of pride’, defiantly and unapologetically. The LCR Pride Foundation will continue to strive for the rights of all LGBT+ people to be able to live their lives authentically and without persecution, wherever we live.”

Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Culture on Liverpool City Council said:

“Eurovision showed us the whole city can embrace an event of this scale, which is why we’re so thrilled that Pride in Liverpool will be taking a different approach this year by bringing the entire city centre together. We’re very excited to see how the whole day develops.”

Updates and more information on this year’s events and activities will be shared via the LCR Pride Foundation’s newsletter and social media. You can sign up by visiting lcrpride.co.uk.

Re-live Eurovision in our archives HERE.