Community, political and religious leaders in Liverpool voiced their support for the LGBT+ community and condemned attacks and hatred against them in a virtual Pride 'march' at midday on Saturday, July 31.
The Liverpool City Region Pride Foundation streamed a video on social media, featuring messages from Jurgen Klopp, the Bishop of Liverpool, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, and Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson, on what would have been the day of a Pride parade and festival in Liverpool city centre.
LGBT+ bars and clubs in Liverpool's 'Pride Quarter' ran a range of events including bacon sandwiches, a street party, drag acts and live DJs from midday Saturday to 7am on Sunday.
READ MORE:
The official Pride festival was cancelled earlier this year due to uncertainty around mass gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.
Andi Herring co-founded the LCR Pride Foundation in 2019 with the aim of making Merseyside the most LGBT+ friendly region in the country.
Referring in a statement to the recent series of homophobic and transphobic attacks in Liverpool city centre, Andi said: "It has been a tough year for the city region’s LGBT+ community. The events of the last few months really tell us why we need to come together.
"The shocking incidents we’ve seen over the last two months are just a reminder that hate crimes and discrimination still exist and affect our LGBT+ community.
"That’s why we’re proud to be a march and a protest. That’s why we want to listen to the community and make sure we keep grassroots activism at our core. It’s why we’ll continue to work with employers, educators and organisations who want to listen and create a better environment for LGBT+ people.
"We have been overwhelmed by the messages of support and the pledges to make real, effective change 'from now on' to help us move towards our mission to ensure that the Liverpool City Region can be the most LGBT+ friendly in the UK."
Chair of the gender dysphoria clinic CMAGIC, Tony Griffin, paid tribute to Imogen Christie, director and founder of Liverpool Trans Day of Visibility (TDoV), whose funeral was the day before on July 29.
In a statement, Tony said: "Please, join me in the pledge of keeping Imogen's memory alive and make sure that Liverpool TDoV goes from strength to strength every year, because that's what Pride is all about."
Representatives of Sahir House, the Liverpool Bi+ Group and Merseyrail were among those who spoke in the video.
The lack of a parade this year means many of the stunning shots captured at the event won't bless us in 2021, so we've picked some of the best pictures from previous Prides to compensate.
Renowned Liverpool hairdresser Patrick Wilson, 29, originally from Tuebrook, raised thousands of pounds for YPAS' queer youth group GYRO last month by doing a 'hair-a-thon' in Lush Spa Liverpool.
Liverpool Queer Collective runs sober, queer and trans friendly events as an alternative to the queer club scene in the city.
And some special mentions from the June 22 protest against a series of homophobic and transphobic attacks that sparked fear, anger and defiance in Liverpool's LGBT+ community.
The march made people feel empowered and connected, representing a Pride protest for many LGBT+ people in a difficult time when people were separated and scared, and official Pride events were cancelled once again.
