Liverpool’s annual Pride festival and March in Pride events are set to go ahead after being saved by an LGBTQ+ charity.
The LCR Pride Foundation, which originally organised the events, announced last month they would be cancelled this year due to “substantial financial and organisational challenges”.
But the events will now proceed after Sahir House, an LGBTQ+ and HIV charity based in Liverpool, organised support to facilitate a “city-wide, community-led” celebration on 26 July.
Last month, Sahir House launched a fundraiser with a £60,000 target to help deliver the events and it has raised more than £10,000 so far.
“In the wake of LCR Pride Foundation’s difficult decision not to deliver Pride in Liverpool this year, a decision that we recognise the scale of and deeply respect their courage in taking such a step, Sahir has responded to calls from across the community to ensure that Pride still takes place this summer,” the charity said.
“Working in collaboration with local volunteers, creatives, grassroots organisers and fellow LGBTQ+ organisations, Sahir is helping to bring people together to deliver a different kind of Pride – one that is inclusive, accessible, community-centred and proudly rooted in Liverpool’s queer history and activism.
“Sahir is proud to be working alongside LCR Pride Foundation, Homotopia, and many more artists, activists and grassroots groups to shape and support this people-powered Pride – one that truly reflects the diversity, resilience and creativity of our LGBTQ+ communities.”
Sahir House said it was “thrilled” to announce that the events would go ahead.
“Thanks to the passion, determination and sheer graft of local LGBTQ+ artists, activists, organisations and allies, we’ve turned things around to make Pride happen,” the charity said.
“This year, we’re proudly calling it Liverpool’s Pride – with an apostrophe and an ‘s’ – because this Pride belongs to all of us.
“It’s Liverpool’s moment to come together, celebrate loudly, protest proudly, and reclaim our Pride with love, resilience and joy.”