When Tina Turner said that we don’t need another hero, she was wrong. Liverpool Pride is expecting thousands of them to join this year’s March, which will fly through the city’s streets on Saturday 3 August.
The marvel of caped crusaders will take flight at St Georges Plateau at 12pm, with participants asked to gather from 11am. It will then process along Lime Street before taking in Queen Square Bus Station and Whitechapel before making its way along Lord Street and North John Street beforeturning down James Street, crossing The Strand over Mann Island and landing in front of the main stage at the Pier Head, where the afternoon’s entertainment will begin.
The undoubted highlight of the festival, the Pride March gives the LGBT community, their friends and their families the chance to take to Liverpool’s streets in a blaze of colour, music and this year; SPANDEX, whilst raising awareness of homophobia and the importance of a united community in the local area.
Sponsoring this year’s March and also taking part in force is Hugh Baird College, one of the largest providers of education and training in Merseyside. In addition to encouraging students to be entrepreneurial, the college takes pride in its reputation for promoting equality and diversity throughout the campus and beyond. A perfect match for Liverpool Pride.
James Davies, Festival Manager at Liverpool Pride said: “We’re delighted to return to St George’s Plateau for the start of the March and are grateful to have Hugh Baird involved as a sponsor. The community well and truly spoke when they chose the superhero theme, so we expect to see everyone marching together as Wonder Women or Super Men on the day. We have already been inundated with registrations, a lot more than we had at this time last year, so we’re expecting a record turnout of Liverpool Pride marchers through the city on 3rd August.”
Smiffy’s Liverpool have agreed to add some extra magic and sparkle to this year’s March by offering Pride-goers a special 15% off super-hero costumes offer when you quote Liverpool Pride in store or type pride15 into the special offer box on the Smiffy’s Liverpool website.
Last year, over 3,500 people took part in the Liverpool Pride March with Patron Angela Eagle MP at the helm and Liverpool Football Club leading the way as the UK’s first Premier League team to take part in a Pride March. Political Organisations, Trade Unions, the Police and Fire and Rescue Service were also represented in addition to many local gay bars, shops, restaurants, individuals and their nearest and dearest. 7000 people turned out to cheer on marchers in 2012. Both of these figures are expected to increase in 2013 as the festival continues to grow in its popularity.
Similarly to previous Liverpool Pride Marches, there will be no motorised floats included, in order to place more emphasis on the issues of Homophobia in the Liverpool LGBT community and also to keep the festival’s carbon emissions to a minimum.
Principal of Hugh Baird College, Yana Williams said: “Hugh Baird College is proud to be sponsoring the largest free pride event outside of London – Liverpool Pride. As the event’s first ever sponsor from the Sefton area, we’re keen to encourage all of our students, staff and the wider Sefton community to show their support and join in the fun. At Hugh Baird College, we believe in giving everyone the opportunity to be themselves and achieve their full potential and we hope our involvement in Liverpool Pride will reinforce this ethos.”
LIVERPOOL PRIDE NEEDS A HERO! So, don your gold lamé cape, show us your underpants and bring yourself, your trusty sidekick, friends, family, work-mates and groups along-to take part in the March, which is completely free to join. Everyone is welcome and is invited to sign up at liverpoolpride.co.uk/march before 31st July.
Liverpool Pride 2013 will take place on Saturday 3 August at Liverpool’s iconic pier-head and throughout the Stanley Street Gay Quarter. In addition to this, there will be a weekend of cultural events taking place at some of Liverpool’s most influential arts and cultural establishments.
Make sure you check out liverpoolpride.co.uk, @LiverpoolPride on Twitter and facebook.com/LiverpoolPrideto have your say and for all of the latest pride news.
