Claire Simmo at Liverpool Pride 2014. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Rain has a habit of getting in the way of the most superb of days, like a badly bruised apple can spoil a bag of tempting fruit; it can annoy and ruin any specific moment in which fun and reflection is the order of the day, yet it couldn’t destroy the party that was Liverpool Pride 2014.

By the banks of the swollen River Mersey, the greyness of the day imitating itself upon the top of the water that flowed torrent like down past the Liver Building that stood proudly above the scene and music and underneath the cruiser that stood ready to disembark after saying one last final hurrah to a city that had played its host, Liverpool Pride kicked off its fifth year determined not to let rain spoil the day.

With a great line up of music that included the opening act of Katy B. who wowed the early afternoon crowds with a tremendous set through to local acts such as Watchtower, who got in on the theme of the day with great relish, to Audio Zero, who despite only playing three songs more than suggested that they are a band to see live when they next play their home town, to the stunning voice of Sam Cottrell, the musical abundance of Doodah Farm, the wonderful D.J. skills of the fabulous Ellie Phillips and the energetic and utterly loveable Killa Sister, this was a Liverpool Pride in which to relish being in the crowd, regardless of your orientation. This was a day in which to support equality across the range, to take joy in the great strides in fairness that has come about by people being able to marry who they want and also to continue their fight for gay/lesbian/bisexuality/transgender rights, especially in countries which for some reason to be gay is punishable by the death penalty and to remember the reason why Liverpool Pride started in the first place, to commemorate the life of Michael Causer who was tragically murdered six years ago.

Ellie Phillips at Liverpool Pride. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Equality is all many ever ask for, to be seen for what they do in life, how they contribute to society, the respect to be seen for who they are, a living breathing human being with the same needs and desires as everybody else, to love and to be loved. It’s not a difficult thing to ask for; we are after all here for such a short time, what does it matter?

Whilst the rain finally came down with the force of a 100 foot wide and a mile deep bucket being poured over the streets of Liverpool, the sun gladly kept going and the crowd which had sampled songs such as Audio Zero’s True Lust and Fearless, Sam Cottrell’s resonating voice capture the belief in Queen’s Who Want’s To Live Forever and Etta James’ At Last and Claire Simmo’s boundless energy in her version of Madonna’s tracks for which she was flanked by dancers from the House of Suarez, who had been marvellous all day, this was a day in which to celebrate life. Certainly those who braved the weather must have thought so as the colourful party continued into the night.

Ian D. Hall