Thousands of Liverpool City Region's LGBT+ community and Ukrainian LGBT+ representatives have marched thorough Liverpool as part of the City’s Pride 2023 - Part 1 of 2

THE organisers of Liverpool City Region Pride Foundation invited Kyiv Pride to take part in the 2023 Liverpool Pride, that was held on 29 July 2023. As Liverpool hosted Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine, Liverpool said it was only natural that they would play host this very special event, not only as a legacy of the Song Contest, but also as a political statement of the City’s continuing support. This was extremely important for the Ukrainians within our Region, as Ukraine had to ban marches, following the Russian invasion of the country, especially since the Russian Federal Law now targets Russian LGBT+ communities. If you do not already know, within the Russian Federation, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people face significant challenges, and prosecution, after the laws in Russia were changed:- "for the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating a Denial of Traditional Family Values." This law now also affects the Ukrainian LGBT+ communities within occupied areas of Ukraine.

This year's Pride event was not just in support of the Ukrainian LGBT+ communities, but also for our own LGBT+ communities. This annual event celebrates all communities that embraces inclusion.

The City was 1 of the very 1st in the UK to host a Pride events, with previous Prides having been held in:- 1979, 1990, 1991, 1992, and in 1995. But this version of Pride started in 2010, following the murder of the openly gay teenager Michael Causer on 2 August 2008, in Knowsley. His murder shocked the City, and the new Pride demonstration it was a natural reaction to the situation. The murder had also plunged both the City and the LGBT communities into the national spotlight, so the organisers wanted to use this to do something good, by highlighting the good within the City, and demonstrate that the vast majority of our population do not support anti LGBT views. Ever since the City has welcomed the now annual event. Sadly, a very, very, small group, who are often from outside the area, do try to protest, but are definitely ignored by the vast majority of the City, who come out to support the Pride celebrations.

This year's event officially began at around 10.30am as hundreds of people gathered outside St George's Hall for the start of the parade. The parade was extremely well attended, despite national travel issues on the railway's, with large groups of local groups and organisations taking part. They included trade unions, along with political groups such as the:- Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Labour Party taking part. Other groups included:- Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the North West Ambulance Service, along with groups like the HM Prison Service. That was not forgetting the many carnival bands and charities.

The festivities where not just focused on the Pride Parade. Through the day, the City was decorated in rainbow colours, even Merseyrail decorated the ticket offices with multicoloured decorations. They also provide a full rail service throughout the day.

The entertainment also continued throughout the day, at the Peir Head as well as within Liverpool's Gay Quarter. Most of the bars and clubs within the City Centre also took part.

Many of the satellite events ran into the early hours of the morning, with 2 venues within the Pride Quarter venues opening till 7am. There's a lot to keep up with and it was totally inclusive, so you didn't need to be LGBT to enjoy the activities.

Please do let us know what you thought about the event by emailing our Newsroom or sending us messages at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter.

Did you know? Liverpool has one of the largest LGBT communities within the United Kingdom and has had a recorded LGBT+ history since the 18th Century....