Some of Liverpool’s most iconic buildings and venues will be lit up in the colours of the iconic Rainbow Flag as part of Liverpool Pride 2016.
Come Out of the Shadows is a new three-year initiative spanning Liverpool City Region, which will allow the organisers of the all new Liverpool Pride to set out their stall in their bid to become the most visibly L.G.B.T. friendly city in the U.K.
This year, Liverpool Pride is a week-long festival taking place between Saturday 23rd July and Sunday 31st July. The week culminates with a two-day event over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 30th and 31st July, in the St. George’s Cultural Quarter.
Come Out of the Shadows is a joint initiative funded by Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Jane Kennedy, and will run for the duration of the festival. Knowsley Metropolitan Council and Barclays will play key roles in launching the campaign but the official switch on will take place in Knowsley in memory of Michael Causer.
Liverpool Pride invited organisations across the region to join its Come Out of the Shadows campaign and light their buildings in part or full using the colours from the iconic and internationally recognisable L.G.B.T. Rainbow Flag during the Pride Festival, or to show their support by displaying the iconic Rainbow Flag.
This will showcase Liverpool, both inwardly and outwardly, as an inclusive, diverse and tolerant L.G.B.T. friendly city, while at the same time helping to educate, raise awareness and normalise L.G.B.T. in all its forms. The overall aim is to make Liverpool a safer place for residents and visitors alike.
Some of Liverpool’s most famous and recognisable buildings have already pledged their support and will come alive with the colours of Pride on 23rd July.
The city’s two world famous football clubs, Liverpool F.C and Everton F.C, are supporting Come Out of the Shadows. The Kop stand at Liverpool F.C’s Anfield Stadium will be lit up in the Rainbow colours; while Everton F.C will fly Rainbow Flags at Goodison Park over the main Pride weekend (Saturday and Sunday, 30th and 31st July).
Also joining Anfield and Goodison for Come Out of the Shadows are Liverpool Town Hall; St. George’s Hall Liverpool; Cunard Building; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool Central Library; Everyman and Playhouse theatres; FACT; Royal Court Theatre Liverpool; World Museum Liverpool; the Bluecoat; ECHO Arena; Merseyside Police Headquarters; Liverpool John Lennon Airport; James Street Station; the Wheel of Liverpool; and Jack Jones House on Commutation Row.
Venues in communities across the wider Liverpool City Region are also showing their support, and include Isla Gladstone Conservatory in Anfield; Barclays at Wavertree Technology Park; Liverpool Hope University in Childwall; Crosby Library; The Atkinson in Southport; Wallasey Town Hall; Floral Pavilion in New Brighton; St Helens Town Hall; Steve Prescott Bridge in St Helens; Runcorn Town Hall; Greystone Footbridge over the M62 and Our Place at Knowsley Centre and Culture Park.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy commented: “I’m thrilled to support Liverpool Pride’s Come Out of the Shadows campaign. By lighting Liverpool’s most recognisable buildings with the colours of the iconic L.G.B.T. rainbow flag, we will send out a powerful message that Liverpool is diverse, Liverpool is tolerant and Liverpool supports its L.G.B.T. community.”
This message will shine out, not only to the residents of this fantastic city but everybody that visits here for work or for leisure. In a world where homosexuality is still illegal in more than 75 countries and many gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people live with oppression every day, this campaign will send a message of hope and of solidarity to people across the country and around the world.
I can’t wait to see many of Merseyside’s iconic and prominent buildings illuminated in the rainbow flag and I encourage other organisations to show their support by lighting up too.”
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson added, “Recent terrible events around the world have reminded us all that L.G.B.T. people still face dangerous intolerance. That is why as a Mayor of Liverpool I am very proud to once again fully support Liverpool Pride and the Come Out of the Shadows project, showing the world that Liverpool is an open, diverse and inclusive place to live.”
Michael Carey from Liverpool Pride explained: “It is our vision and long-term goal that we make Liverpool the most visibly L.G.B.T. friendly city in the UK – and with the support of key organisations and venues we can do just that. We are most definitely back bigger and better for 2016, and this is a great way for the city to really get behind the festival by showing their true Pride colours.
The Come Out of the Shadows campaign provides a beautiful backdrop yet underlying has a serious message by helping to raise awareness of L.G.B.T. communities and Hate Crime. Discrimination in any form is unacceptable and we hope to shine a light on this issue. I would finally like to thank all the participating organisations whose support and encouragement have made this campaign possible.”
Liverpool Pride – the region’s annual L.G.B.T. festival – is now one of the major events in the city’s Summer events programme, attracting more than 25,000 people. Now in its seventh consecutive year, this popular annual celebration provides a fun, colourful and vibrant festival in the heart of the city, attracting an eclectic mix of local residents who are joined by visitors from across the U.K. and beyond.
The all new Liverpool Pride will take a more prominent and visual position in the city for 2016, taking over St. George’s Cultural Quarter, including St George’s Hall, The Plateau, William Brown Street and St. John’s Gardens. The festival will be organised and delivered by Orb Events, the Liverpool-based company who created the very first Pride event in 2010.
As always, the festival coincides with the anniversary of murdered gay teenager Michael Causer, who tragically lost his life on 2nd August 2008. The Liverpool Pride festival was specifically created in his memory as a way to celebrate his life and to empower the L.G.B.T. communities.
If your venue would like to support the Come Out of the Shadows initiative, now or in future years, please contact michael.carey@liverpoolpride.co.uk