By Eden Wilkinson
Much awaited after its 3-year hiatus, Pride returns to Liverpool this month. The city will be filled with social, cultural, and political events for all to attend and stand together in solidarity.
The free Pride Festival ran by LCR Pride is set to take place on Saturday 30th July at the Pier Head. Opening at 12 noon, with the busiest period set to be between 12.45pm and 2pm, it most certainly will be a lively and exuberant occasion. The line-up for the Barclays main stage will be announced later in the month. You can sign up to the LCR Pride foundation mailing list to be the first to find out more information.
With the day festival finishing at 8pm, what better way to continue the party than at Sonic Yootha. Described as a club night for “homos, fauxmos, gender-blenders, full-time queers and part-time Brendas” it has taken the gay scene in Liverpool by storm over the past 7 years. Their next disco will take place from 9pm-4am on the 30th July at 24 Kitchen Street. With it being their Pride ’22 special, it is set to be yet another sensational disco where all are welcome.
Pride in Liverpool always begins with the annual ‘March with Pride’, an opportunity to fly the flag for the LGBTQ+ community and take to the streets in solidarity. This year aims to be bigger than ever after the 2019 march saw over 12,000 people take to the streets. Gathering will begin at 10:30am with the aim to begin the march at noon. Sign up to the LCR Pride March here.
The chosen theme of the LCR Pride foundation for this year is ‘Come Together’, an extremely poignant message after the substantial social distancing that has been in force over the few past years. LCR Pride aims to make Liverpool the most LGBTQ+ friendly community in the country, emphasising the importance of coming together at a time where the communities’ freedoms and rights continue to be attacked. It is great to see LCR Pride extend their events further across the region with the brand new ‘Pride at the Seaside’ event at New Brighton on the 27th August.
Homotopia is an art and activism-based festival that runs each year around October time. However, this year they have ran events such as the recent ‘Queer in the City’ on the 2nd July. In collaboration with National Museums Liverpool, it was the first ever NML Xtra event which showcased unique experiences and installations, certainly creating anticipation for what else they have in store for this year.
You can donate to LCR Pride Foundation here.