LIVERPOOL landmarks - including Anfield and Goodison Park - will be sporting vibrant rainbow colours this weekend to show support with Liverpool Pride 2016.
Organisers of the “all new”, week-long festival say they want Liverpool to become “the most visibly LGBT friendly city in the UK”
As such, the festival has launched a three year initiative called Come Out of the Shadows, partly funded by Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Jane Kennedy, which will run for the duration of the festival between 23 and 31 July.
Some of Liverpool’s most famous and recognisable buildings have already pledged their support and will come alive with the colours of the Pride flag on 23 July.
Discrimination in any form is unacceptable and we hope to shine a light on this issue
The Kop at Anfield will be lit up in the rainbow colours; while Everton FC will fly rainbow flags at Goodison over the main Pride weekend (Saturday and Sunday, 30 and 31 July).
They are joined by Liverpool Town Hall; St George’s Hall Liverpool; Cunard Building; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool Central Library; Everyman and Playhouse theatres; FACT; Royal Court Theatre Liverpool; World Museum Liverpool; the Bluecoat; ECHO Arena; Merseyside Police Headquarters; Liverpool John Lennon Airport; James Street Station; the Wheel of Liverpool; and Jack Jones House on Commutation Row.
Michael Carey from Liverpool Pride explained: “It is our vision and long-term goal that we make Liverpool the most visibly LGBT friendly city in the UK – and with the support of key organisations and venues we can do just that. We are most definitely back bigger and better for 2016, and this is a great way for the city to really get behind the festival by showing their true Pride colours.
“The Come Out of the Shadows campaign provides a beautiful backdrop yet underlying has a serious message by helping to raise awareness of LGBT communities and Hate Crime. Discrimination in any form is unacceptable and we hope to shine a light on this issue."
This year, Liverpool Pride is a week-long festival taking place between Saturday 23 July and Sunday 31 July. The week culminates with a two-day event over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 30 and 31 July, in the St George’s Cultural Quarter.
The official switch on, however, will take place in Knowsley in memory of Michael Causer who tragically lost his life on 2 August 2008. The Liverpool Pride festival was specifically created in his memory as a way to celebrate his life and to empower the LGBT communities.
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