THEGAYUK

Tag: Liverpool News

Get the latest LGBT+ Liverpool news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Liverpool in England, UK.

  • The Gays are taking over the BBC for Eurovision

    The Gays are taking over the BBC for Eurovision

    Scott Mills and Rylan are both hosting Eurovision Night on BBC Radio 2 while Paddy O’Connell broadcasts the semis.

    BBC Radio 2 – the home of Eurovision 2023 on UK radio – today announces that Scott Mills and Rylan will be the station’s presenters for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final which will be broadcast live on Radio 2 on Saturday 13th May. And for the very first time, Radio 2 will also broadcast the Eurovision semi-finals, which will be presented by Paddy O’Connell. 

    Eurovision superfans and Radio 2 presenters, Scott and Rylan – who have been involved in Eurovision coverage for many years – will be bringing their insightful and colourful commentary to the Grand Final on the network, broadcasting live from the centre of the action at Liverpool Arena. The UK is hosting the 2023 event on behalf of the 2022 winners, Ukraine. It will be the culmination of a week in the city for Scott and Rylan, as they are also providing TV commentary for the Semi Finals – both of which, for the first time in the UK’s Eurovision Song Contest history, will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Meanwhile, Scott’s afternoon show (Tuesday to Friday, 2-4pm) on Radio 2 will be coming from Liverpool all week, with Richie Anderson hosting the show on Tuesday and Thursday as Scott prepares to host the semi-finals on TV.

    For the first time, this year Radio 2 will also be broadcasting the two Eurovision Semi-finals, with Paddy O’Connell hosting the network’s live coverage from the Liverpool Arena. In the first semi-final on Tuesday 9th May (8-10pm), fifteen countries are taking part with ten qualifying for the Grand Final on Saturday night. And on Thursday 11th May, Paddy returns with live coverage from the second of the semi-finals, with sixteen countries taking part and ten qualifying for the Grand Final on Saturday night. These shows will also be simulcast on BBC Radio Merseyside.

    Rylan says: “Eurovision is my favourite time of the year, I cannot wait! And I’m so excited and absolutely buzzing to be hosting the Eurovision Grand Final on Radio 2, the biggest and best music event in the world, with my partner-in-crime Scott Mills. We can’t wait to bring listeners closer to the action than ever before, with all the fun, excitement and backstage gossip from what promises to be an unforgettable night.”

    Scott says: “I can’t begin to describe how excited I am to be presenting the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Radio 2. I’ve had the great pleasure of being involved with Eurovision in various ways over the years, from commentating alongside Graham Norton to singing karaoke with the contestants, but presenting from the Grand Final in Liverpool is the ultimate childhood dream come true. Rylan and I will be going all out so please come and join the party live on Radio 2!”

    Paddy says: “I’m walking on sunshine to join Radio 2 live in Liverpool hosting the Eurovision semi-finals. Sam Ryder broke the UK Eurovision spell last year and I hope it’s magic for Mae in 2023.”

    Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: “The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be a very special event and who better to host Radio 2’s coverage of the Grand Final than our very own Scott and Rylan. And I’m delighted that for the first time, Radio 2 will be bringing our listeners all the drama and fun from the semi-finals, hosted by Paddy O’Connell. With years of Eurovision experience under his belt, Paddy is the perfect guide for fans and also those who may be discovering Eurovision for the first time.”

  • This university has started calling Lesbian, Gay and Bi people “sexual minorities”

    This university has started calling Lesbian, Gay and Bi people “sexual minorities”

    rihaij / Pixabay

    The University of Liverpool has seemingly done away with the labels gay, lesbian and bisexual and replaced it with “sexual minorities” while still referring to straight people as heterosexuals.

    In a press release, which was trying to convey that young people born between 1995 and 2015 who identify as a “sexual minority” i.e gay, lesbian, bisexual and pansexual are more likely to experience mental health problems.

    “sexual” minorities makes us look as though we are just sexual beings”

    Throughout the press release, the University, which worked alongside University College London, repeatedly called LGB people “sexual minorities” however when it came to writing about their heterosexual counterparts, it used the word heterosexuality.

    THEGAYUK conducted a flash poll to see what it’s readers thought of the term “sexual minority”

    The clear indication from our flash poll was that the majority of those who identify as LGB did not think that the term was right. Over 80 per cent of those who took part said they disagreed with the term and were happy to keep identities labelled as Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual.

    One commenter wrote, “‘sexual’ minorities makes us look as though we are just sexual beings, a different sexuality to heterosexuality is a part of who we are not just the sex we may or may not have”

    Another added, “totally agree! Sex is one aspect of a human being! I am married to a man, that is not a sexual thing! I am lucky that also part of the luck I have had”

    “Attraction not Identity”

    According to researchers, it’s about attraction, not identity, a spokesperson for the research said,

    “We use sexual minority as an umbrella term to incorporate those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual. We use this term as we only had data about sexual attraction (from the secondary data source used i.e. the millennium cohort study) and not identity which would be more closely reflected by ‘LGB’.

    “Our sample were not asked about their identity but only their attraction i.e. have you been attracted to a boy/girl. Furthermore, due to the fact they are likely still navigating their identity at this age i.e. 14 years old (savin-williams, 2011) we did not want to ascribe labels that may change in future and as such sexual minority was a more age appropriate term.”

    Discuss this and more in our forum

  • Homophobic knife attack in Liverpool – two men left with injuries

    Homophobic knife attack in Liverpool – two men left with injuries

    Police in Liverpool are appealing for information after a homophobic assault, which involved a knife, in Liverpool over the weekend.

    geralt / Pixabay

    Police in Liverpool are investigating after it was reported that at around 9.20pm, on Saturday, two men, both in their 30s were walking down Manningham Road in the direction of Priory Road, when they were approached by three male youths. The youths made homophobic insults towards them, before, it is alleged, one of them produced a knife and assaulted the men.

    One of the victims sustained injuries to his head and neck described as serious but non-life threatening while the second sustained a minor hand injury. They have both been taken to hospital for treatment and were left incredibly shaken by the incident.

    The offenders are described as between 12 and 15 years old, with one wearing a dark bubble coat and one riding a bike.

    Detectives are urging any witnesses to come forward.

    Detective Inspector Tara Denn said, “This was an appalling and unprovoked attack on two men simply making their way home and we are working tirelessly to locate those responsible.

    “Two men have been left with significant injuries tonight and the hate and violence that has been inflicted on them is simply unacceptable and won’t be tolerated on the streets of Merseyside.

    “I would ask anyone in Manningham Road or the surrounding areas this evening to please come forward with any information. You may have witnessed the incident or youths making off from the scene, or even have CCTV or dashcam footage, and I would urge you to please get in touch with police. Likewise, if you know who is responsible for this crime, please do the right thing and let us know.

    “There is absolutely no place for hate crime in society and we know how much of a massive impact it has on victims. I want to reach out to the LBGT community, who I know will be deeply saddened by this news and reassure you that we stand with you and if you report such incidents to the police, we will do our utmost to support and protect you and bring those responsible to justice.

    “We are passionate about maintaining the right of all our communities to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect and by working closely with our partners will continue to work to eradicate hate crime of all forms.

    “Victims can report directly to the police where experienced hate crime officers will treat them with sensitivity and compassion, or via third party reporting centres in fire stations, citizen advice bureaus and hospitals where the information will be passed on.”

    Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside PoliceCC. You can also call 101 quoting incident reference 19100328734 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.

  • Boyfriend and family of young man who died by suicide to host one last party

    Boyfriend and family of young man who died by suicide to host one last party

    The boyfriend and family of a young man who died after taking his own life is to host a party in his honour to raise money for the charity, YoungMinds.

    Lee, who died last year with his boyfriend, Nathan.

    The family and boyfriend of a young man who died after taking his life last year are hoping to raise much needed funds for the leading mental health charity, YoungMinds by putting on a party to celebrate his life. He died just a month before his 18th birthday.

    Lee’s family is fundraising for the charity via a GoFundMe page with the proceeds going directly to help with YoungMinds’ mission.

    Writing on the page, Nathan wrote, “We are hosting this party a year on to celebrate his life and regroup as friends and family. I’ll go dressed as a unicorn, as I am sure my boy would want me to (he loved them!)”.

    Lee with his Mum and his siblings

    Speaking to THEGAYUK, Nathan told us about Lee saying, “He was warm, kind and exceptionally thoughtful. I knew from the moment we met that he would be a huge part of my life”.

    The pair met in Liverpool, where on their first date, they “walked along the docks and read all of the padlocks”.

    When Nathan went to university, the pair became penpals, Nathan told us, “He was my pen pal too, we would write each other letters, even though he would come and visit me at university”.

    Nathan also told us what life has been like following Lee’s passing saying, “My advice is to talk. Make the most of the people you love and care about. Try not to be unkind.

    Lee and Nathan together.

    “Someone’s mental state doesn’t bleed like a wound, nor can it be fixed with a plaster. It’s so much more complicated. You cannot see it, but so often people are bleeding.

    “If you are hurting, remember that your pain is felt by many people. All people have bad days and most people get through them. Please find the strength to realise that everyone is blessed with the ability to listen. Your parents, your friends. Your doctor. Talking might not help at first, but it’s a start. Begin helping others and begin helping yourself”.

    If you are in the UK, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 if you are struggling with mental health issues. You can donate by clicking here.

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  • THEATRE REVIEW | Titanic, The Musical, Liverpool Empire

    THEATRE REVIEW | Titanic, The Musical, Liverpool Empire

    ★★★☆☆ | Titanic – The Musical – Liverpool Empire

    Titanic - The Musical - National Tour review

    **This review was taken from the Sheffield production**

    Despite it being over 100 years since Titanic slipped under the waves, the fascination with the ship and those on board hasn’t faded, as evidenced by the packed house of this revival of Moury Yeston’s musical. The story of the ships maiden voyage and, ultimately, its demise is told through a wealth of characters from all classes of passengers and from the crew on board.

    The set, all sheet metal and rivets, towers above the audience instilling in them the impression of the sheer scale of the ship whilst a simple two-tier stage evoked an image of the decks and worked effectively. But from the off, the cast were on top form, as the magnificent ensemble belted out the opening numbers with such gusto that it reverberated in the chest, like the sounds of the engines of the great ship itself.

    And therein lays the strength of this production. Its cast was outstanding, and whether singing alone, in small groups or as an ensemble, the whole thing was beautifully sung and more akin to an opera than a musical. The three leads Philip Rham, Simon Green and Greg Castiglioni bounced off each other nicely as the Captain, owner and designer of the ship, and Niall Sheeny impressed as the stoker Fred Barrett. Whilst the direction was fairly minimal, the cast switched between their multiple roles seamlessly, spilling out into the aisles on occasions to engage the audience; whilst on a technical level, the lighting and sound design, the costumes and the balance between actors voices and orchestra were all absolutely spot on.

    Sadly, an overly long runtime, a handful of similar-sounding songs and a few too many story threads anchored down the first act to an extent, but the second act picked up the pace as the race to abandon ship took hold.

    What comes out of the production is an underlying theme of love between the characters, from the newlyweds to the eloping couple to the elderly husband and wife, and it is this which packs the emotional punch and brings the human cost of the tragedy sharply into focus.

    Book tickets to see Titanic, The Musical at Liverpool Empire until 4th August 2018

  • New support for LGBT people affected by cancer in Merseyside

    A new project to improve services and support for people in the LGBT community who are affected by cancer has been launched on Merseyside.

    The Macmillan LGBT Cancer Project aims to ensure that the needs of LGBT people affected by cancer in the Liverpool City Region are acknowledged and addressed in the provision of services, information and support.

    A key part of the project, which is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and hosted by Sahir House, is the Merseyside LGBT Health Survey 2018.

    The survey will help the team build a picture of the health of LGBT people, and identify where any gaps are, and tailor resources and services to meet the specific needs of LGBT communities in Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.

    Richard Hunt, Partnership Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, who helped set up a similar successful scheme in Manchester, said, “LGBT people with cancer can often face disadvantage, inequality and discrimination. That’s why we have set up the Macmillan LGBT Cancer Project, and launched the Merseyside LGBT Health Survey, to get a greater understanding of the health of LGBT people across Merseyside.

    “If you are an LGBT person affected by cancer, or have cared for someone from the LGBT community who has experienced cancer, then we want to hear from you. We currently have a national picture of the challenges faced by the LGBT community, when they are affected by cancer, but not a local one. We need to understand the issues and experiences faced by the LGBT community across Merseyside, so we can work together to tackle inequalities, address any unmet needs and bridge any gaps in service provision, and to help improve outcomes for people affected by cancer.”

    Clare Carter and James Huyton have been appointed as the new Macmillan LGBT Cancer Programme Co-ordinators at Sahir House, which has been providing HIV support, prevention, information and training across Merseyside since 1985.

    Clare joins from the Terrence Higgins Trust, where she was involved in training, development and partnership work, while James joins from the LGBT Foundation and has a background in health promotion.

    Over the next 12 months, the pair will host various events and campaigns to engage with LGBT communities looking at issues relating to cancer, reducing isolation and increasing awareness, information and wellbeing. They will also be engaging with professionals, and providing training and support, to help them meet the specific needs of LGBT communities.

    Tessa Willow, Chief Executive of Sahir House, added: “Sahir House is excited to be working in partnership with Macmillan on this project, bringing this organisation’s extensive experience of engaging people from marginalised communities, including people from all parts of the LGBT spectrum. Sahir House is aware of the powerful affect discrimination can have on peoples’ abilities to access services on an equitable basis and the health inequalities that result from such discrimination.”

  • COMMENT | Why Liverpool is the gayest city in the UK this time of the year

    Liverpool’s cultural history has always been rich, colourful and varied and has all the diversity you would expect of a major international port with a cosmopolitan outlook and long-established trade links to centres of creative activity the world over.

    Liverpool’s LGBTQ presence is well established, active and visible throughout a city which has long been proud of its artistic and cultural heritage and the contribution artists and pioneers such as Holly Johnson, Terence Davies and Brian Epstein have made to both Queer and mainstream popular culture.

    While some might say Liverpool lacks an established ‘gay village’ like Manchester’s Canal Street or Soho in London, savvy local’s will be quick to point out that the much of Liverpool’s city centre is a friendly, welcoming and safe space for LGBTQ locals and visitors alike. Many of the city’s well known and established bars, restaurants and creative spaces have a long history of gay ownership, staffing and management which has always encouraged a diverse and mixed clientele.

    Liverpool has a rapidly growing reputation as a world-class tourist destination having been granted World Heritage Status in recognition of its architectural and cultural importance. The city was also a European Capital of Culture and this major event kick-started a cultural and artistic renaissance which was also instrumental in positioning Liverpool as an important champion of LGBTQ arts and culture for the 21st Century.

    The Liverpool Biennial arts festival attracted a creative crowd from all over the globe, and its Independent fringe events in particular often featured a range of works by LGBTQ artists from Liverpool as well as further afield. Homotopia also originated during this exciting period of Liverpool’s artistic history with the specific aim of focussing on and celebrating LGBTQ art, performance and creativity and has become an essential and internationally significant yearly fixture in the cultural calendar.

    by  James Lawler, co-artistic director of The Gallery

    Find out more about Homotopia, visit their website.

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • Six prides are bidding to host UK Pride 2018

    As the LGBT+ Pride season draws to a close in the UK, six Pride organisations have thrown their hat into the ring to host UK Pride in 2018.

    The first UK Pride took place at Pride in Hull in July. The event saw a huge increase in attendee numbers, and visitors from across the UK. Licensed by the UK Pride Organisers Network (UKPON), UK Pride is the national equivalent of EuroPride and WorldPride.

    Exeter Pride, Folkestone Pride, Isle of Wight Pride, Liverpool Pride, Preston Pride, and Pride Cymru have all announced that they will bid for UK Pride 2018 at UKPON’s annual conference in Blackpool later this month.

    Co-Chair of UKPON, Andy Train, who is also Vice-Chair of Pride in Hull, said:

    “At Pride in Hull we were delighted to have the honour of hosting the first UK Pride earlier this year, and it’s a tribute to the impact it had on our Pride to see six Prides bidding for next year’s event. The Pride movement is growing across the UK and we had more than 20 brand new Prides this year. UK Pride helps to create a focal point for one Pride each year, to help increase visibility and awareness.”

    “UK Pride status is a unique opportunity and uplift for any Pride. I wish all six Prides all the very best of luck, and I can’t wait to see their bids,” said Mr Train, who is also the Regional Director for the UK for InterPride, the international Pride organisers association.

    All organisers of Pride events in the UK are entitled to be members of UKPON, and each Pride organisation has one vote at the Conference.

    Adam Rank, Chair of Exeter Pride said:

    “Exeter Pride hopes that winning UK Pride will help us to increase LGBTQ+ visibility not just on one day but all year. 2018 is our tenth anniversary year and the perfect time to consider how far we have come both as a movement and a city. We work closely with cultural partners and local businesses, and hope that becoming UK Pride will help us not only to celebrate diversity but also to honour the city that we are so proud of!”

    Chani Sanger, Organiser of Folkestone Pride said:

    “After being warned to not expect attendance of more than 100 people, over 800 came to support Folkestone’s first Pride.  Folkestone has one of the highest pro-rata LGBT+ populations in South East England, yet no real LGBT+ community.  Folkestone Pride has started to change that. UK Pride status would give us the platform to evoke real change in our diverse, creative and historic community. We are the only town applying but we have just as much to offer as a city!”

    Shayne Jackson, Youth Pride Committee Chair at Isle of Wight Pride said:

    “A year in which the MP called gay people ‘dangerous to society’, prominent homophobic columns appeared in the local press and a Councillor suggested banning homosexuals from public toilets, 2017 saw the inaugural Isle of Wight Pride, uniquely taking place on a beach with thousands turning out in support. UK Pride status will enable the Island to build on this success and create a major celebration of diversity and inclusivity, showing the rest of the UK what an amazing place it is.”

    Lucy Day, Chair of Liverpool Pride said:

    “2018 is a big year: ten years since Liverpool was European Capital of Culture and also ten years since local lad, Michael Causer was murdered in a homophobic attack, resulting in what is now Liverpool Pride. Whilst we have much to celebrate as a vibrant and diverse city, we still have to fight to tackle hate crime, ensuring attacks like the one on Michael, and so many others, never happen again in Liverpool, across the UK or around the world.”

    Lu Thomas, Chair of Pride Cymru said:

    “Pride Cymru is bidding to host UK Pride because we believe that we are best placed to highlight how the regions outside of London, Manchester, Brighton and Birmingham are able to unite the LGBT+ communities, whilst forging and strengthening the bonds that tie society together.  We firmly believe that we are stronger when reach out to those that are least represented and believe the great work done by regional Prides are overlooked and would benefit from wider UK recognition.”

    Each Pride will have just fifteen minutes to present their bid, and all are being invited to publish their bids online so that people can view them in advance.

    The winning Pride will be announced at approx 1500 on Sunday 22nd October, and will be livestreamed on Facebook.

    Last weekend, Thessaloniki Pride beat bids from Bergen Pride, The Belgian Pride and Hamburg Pride to host EuroPride 2020.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Dirty Dancing, Liverpool Empire

    ★★★ | Dirty Dancing, Liverpool Empire

    Set in the 1960’s, Frances “Baby” Houseman goes to Kellerman’s holiday camp with her family. She befriends the staff of the camp and develops a crush on charismatic dance teacher, Johnny Castle. When Johnny’s dance partner cannot perform at a show at a local hotel, Baby steps in to ensure that they do not lose their jobs. But as Johnny and Baby rehearse, they fall in love and learn more from each other than just the dance moves.

    Based on the hugely popular film of the same name, Dirty Dancing hits the stage with a show which follows the story of the film very closely, with the bulk of the script being comfortingly recognisable from the film. There are some additional scenes thrown in, which mainly expand on the political changes in the 60’s and some which flesh out the relationship between Baby and Johnny; whilst the show’s music came from a combination of both live and pre-recorded tracks, including “Hungry Eyes”, “Love Man” and “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”

    Katie Eccles and Robert Colvin took the lead roles of Baby and Johnny, and had some chemistry between them; and they were supported by a broadly competent cast of singers, dancers and musicians. Unsurprisingly, the dancing was better than the acting, but given that the show’s main focus is the musical numbers it doesn’t cause too much of a problem.

    The show has been given a major overhaul and is all the better for it. This production has a vibrant lighting design and has ushered in a luxurious, well designed and thoroughly detailed set which transform smoothly without ever interrupting the story; whilst the show has been sexed up a little with a few more bare chests and muscular arms on display. Overall, the production values here are very high and very impressive.

    But where the show really succeeds is in its ability to bring the movie to life and recreating it on stage. All of the familiar lines, plot points, dance routines and songs are there and there is something very comforting about watching such a faithful recreation of the movie. For those who have not seen the film, the show is a good introduction to the world of Kellerman’s. For established fans of the film, the show will be hard to beat.

    Dirty Dancing is playing at the Liverpool Empire until 18th September 2017

    • Review taken from the Sheffield Theatre production

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Liverpool Empire

    ★★★| The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, UK Tour

    REVIEW | The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Liverpool Empire

    Christopher Boone, a 15 year old boy, discovers that his neighbour’s dog, Wellington, has been killed by someone (the poor dog having been stabbed with a garden fork), and sets off to find out who the culprit is. But Christopher has Asperger’s syndrome, which makes his perception and functioning very different to other boys his age and as the truth behind Wellington’s death starts to be revealed, it leads Christopher to embark on a remarkable adventure.

    The show is based on the hugely successful book by Mark Haddon and has been a West End and Broadway hit. Utilising a virtually empty stage, the presentation of the show was intriguing, using screens on the back and sides of the stage, almost framing the show in a cube, reflective of Christopher’s constraints in his functioning. Lights flicker like the firing of neurons in his brain, and black and white projections are used to show both his thought process and to set the scene. The show, like the book, is written from Christopher’s point of view and the presentation effectively places the audience members squarely into the centre of his mind and thoughts. The simplicity of the set is reflective of the way in which Christopher perceives the world and worked very well. There were pieces of carefully choreographed movement throughout, and the scene where Christopher arrives in London and is overwhelmed by the overstimulation of his environment is very well done. In this show, less certainly is more, and the monochrome set nicely mirrored Christopher’s rather binary thinking.

    But placing the style and presentation to one side, the most impressive aspect of the show was the central performance of Scott Reid. Reid’s portrayal of Christopher Boone was highly accomplished – mixing the complexities of the characters personality, his physical traits and a childlike innocence which combined to provide a rounded and believable performance

    The show, and in particular, the first act, is very well written, with a script which imports large chunks of text from the book to provide a faithful adaptation of the source material. Despite being bleak at times, the show was filled with gentle humour; and created a world with a myriad of characters that come in and out of Christopher’s life which nestle alongside the well-crafted moments of dramatic tension and emotionally powerful scenes.

    The show has won a slew of awards, including 7 Olivier Awards and 5 Tony Awards, and it is easy to see why. There is a lot of depth to the play, exploring the adult world of interpersonal relationships through a simplistic and innocent perspective.

    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is playing at the Liverpool Empire until 29th July

    • Review taken from Sheffield Theatre production.

  • The Bishop of Liverpool just became the Patron of Pride 2017

    Liverpool Pride today announces a new Patron for the 2017 festival which takes place over two packed days this month.

    The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev Paul Bayes, says he is delighted to back the region’s established annual celebration of all things LGBT+, and is looking forward to taking part in this year’s festivities.

    Liverpool Pride 2017 takes place on Saturday 29 July and Sunday 30 July, with the spectacular entertainment returning to the stunning St George’s Quarter for a third year.

    The festival, in its eighth consecutive year, has an exciting star-studded line-up to make the 2017 free event a colourful celebration of all things LGBT+.

    Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets for the colourful annual Liverpool Pride March on Saturday 29 July as it wends its way around the city centre. Bishop Paul will be among those invited to speak at the Muster outside St George’s Hall ahead of the march setting off on its route.

    Atomic Kitten are headlining the main Barclays Festival Stage on 29 July, while there is also a packed programme planned for the annual We Are Family day on Sunday 30 July.

    And there is a busy line-up of Pride Community events including exhibitions, workshops, music, literature, theatre and Pride at the Pictures.

    Meanwhile, a host of Liverpool landmarks will be lit in rainbow colours as part of the Come Out of the Shadows initiative – helping make Liverpool the most visibly LGBT+ city in the UK.

    Bishop Paul said,

    “Ever since the tragic death of Michael Causer, Liverpool Pride has stood for the struggle for justice as well as the celebration of LGBTI+ life in our city and region. I am privileged to identify with Pride’s contribution to tackling prejudice and promoting awareness of the richness of our LGBTI+ community. As a Christian, I really believe that Jesus wants a community where all are included and free from fear.

    “Now we all know that the Christian church in general, and the Church of England as part of that, can get itself into a twist over inclusion and equality issues. I myself have been advocating in the church for LGBTI+ inclusion, and all Christians have to agree that homophobia and hate crime are evil and are to be resisted.

    “At the recent meeting of our General Synod the Church of England made some clear and positive statements resisting so-called conversion therapy and exploring services of welcome for trans people who want their true identity to be recognised before God.

    “When I came to Liverpool three years ago and met LGBTI+ Christians across Merseyside, and in particular our Open Table LGBTI+ Christian community, I saw again the real joy we can know as a church when we are open and welcoming to all.”

    Liverpool Pride’s Lucy Day added,

    “We are all delighted that the Bishop is to be a patron of Liverpool Pride, and we welcome him to the Liverpool Pride family. We’re very much looking forward to him joining us at Pride weekend this month.

    “Pride respects people of all religious beliefs.”

    The theme of this year’s Pride is International Love, complementing the city’s wider 50 Summers of Love festival, which celebrates 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality.