2010 sees Liverpool celebrate its first ever official Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender [LGB&T] Pride Festival on Saturday 7th August.
For one day only the city will transform into a Rainbow Circus with a massive celebration taking place around Liverpool’s gay quarter. Following a march around the city centre, the Dale Street area will be closed off all day for the glittering Pride street party including three circus themed stages featuring cabaret, acoustic and headliner performances from an exciting line up of artists and celebrities.
Aside from all of the action on stage, a wide range of live entertainment, sure to wow festival-goers will illuminate the city throughout the day. The 20,000 expected visitors can enjoy a fantastic selection of musical acts, street performers, outrageous circus sideshows and a host of market and refreshment stalls, which will all embrace the rainbow circus theme, before a top secret finale.
The fun doesn’t stop at sunset... far from it! As day turns to night, Liverpool’s thriving gay scene gears into action with a large number of venues holding exciting Pride events especially for the night.
Before 2010, Liverpool was the largest city in the country that hasn’t had its own official pride festival. The city, and the region have had a number of high profile homophobic and transphobic attacks in recent years. At the launch of the LGB&T Network the public voted for a pride festival to engage, empower and involve the LGB&T communities within the city and this was fully endorsed by Liverpool City Council in January 2009. Liverpool Pride 2010 will celebrate the diverse community of one of Europe’s leading cultural cities.
Local television hero and national treasure Paul O’Grady said “About bloody time! Liverpool has finally got its own Pride festival and I know this city knows how to throw a party so I fully expect it to be the best Pride in the country!”
"Our first Pride festival will reinforce Liverpool’s reputation as one of the leading cultural destinations in Europe,” explains Tommy McIlravey of Liverpool Pride 2010, “We have been working closely with the city council and other organisations for a number of months to put together a Pride worthy of Liverpool’s reputation - a Pride which will showcase the diverse nature of life that the city has always had."
Festival organisers are currently working with an exciting number of Liverpool’s sporting and arts venues to bring together a second day of celebration.
Make sure you check out www.liverpoolpride.co.uk to have your say and for all of the latest pride news.