A virtual March with Pride attracted speakers of the status of Reds boss Jurgen Klopp and the Bishop of Liverpool.
For the second year running, the virtual march took place on what would have been the day of the city's Pride celebrations.
The physical Pride celebrations were cancelled earlier in the year, because of ongoing uncertainty and risks around mass public gatherings and the coronavirus pandemic.
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Streamed via LCR Pride Foundation’s social media channels, the online event featured messages of support for the LGBT+ community.
The march featured video messages from Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, and representatives from Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Kop Outs and Liverpool Womens Supporters Club.
Other organisations taking place in the virtual march included Liverpool-based mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, OpenTable, Sahir House, the Liverpool Bi+ Group, Merseyrail, Michael Causer Foundation, The Choir With No Name and Woodlands Hospice.
Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes led the series of video messages and images submitted by organisations and individuals from across the Liverpool City Region.
In his heartfelt statement, Bishop Paul, who recently announced his retirement, said: "We know all over the world homophobia is on the rise, politically, we know in our own city, that the number of homophobic hate crimes has gone up recently.
"When I started as Patron of Pride, some people wrote to me grumpily, some people were very sorry.
"It's not a crime. It's not a sickness, and it's not a sin. You hold your heads high when you march on Pride. And now that we're doing it virtually, you can hold your heads high for all that you contribute to the wider community."
The event also featured a tribute to trans activist, director and founder of Liverpool Trans Day of Visibility (TDoV), Imogen Christie, who died earlier this month.
LCR Pride Foundation Co-Founder and CEO, Andi Herring, 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."
For more information on LCR Pride Foundation, please visit here.
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