As well as the LGBT+ rainbow colours, some buildings will be lit in pink, blue and white, colours of the trans flag, following the hijacking of London Pride by anti-trans activists. Tony McDonough reports
Some of Merseyside’s best-known buildings will be lit up with the rainbow colours of the LGBT+ movement ahead of and during the city’s Pride festival.
Last year there were 46 buildings across Liverpool city region – including the Royal Liver Building – adorned in rainbow colours to raise awareness of LGBT+ hate crimes and to showcase Liverpool as a visibly LGBT+ friendly city.
Trans solidarity
However, this year’s Come Out of the Shadows initiative will reflect the anger among the LGBT+ community at the hijacking of this year’s London Pride March by anti-trans activists.
In response Liverpool Pride organisers have asked partners to show their support by lighting their buildings in pink, blue and white, the international colours of the trans flag. Come out the Shadows will therefore light buildings in both rainbow and trans colours to symbolise solidarity and a united community.
This colourful display is designed to promoted unity and acceptance and underpins the 2018 theme #AllTogetherNow, sending clear messages locally, nationally and internationally that the Liverpool city region is visibly LGBT+ friendly and proud to be diverse.
Kop illuminated
Buildings will be lit up up to and during Liverpool Pride 2018, which takes place on the weekend of July 28-29 and until August 2 and those taking part include St George’s Hall, Liverpool Central Library, FACT, Royal Court Theatre, Everyman Theatre, Playhouse Theatre and St Brides Church.
Across the wider city region the Mersey Gateway Bridge, Grey Stone Footbridge and New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion will also be lit up. Liverpool FC will continue to show its support for Liverpool Pride as it lights up The Kop for the third consecutive year. Proud House Events is responsible for the technical production of the lighting up project.
And, St John’s Beacon will be a significant contributor to this year’s programme and will shine bright for the duration of the campaign. An awareness campaign is also running alongside Come Out of the Shadows, which highlights the initiative on the public screens across the city’s streets and venues.
Remembering Michael
This year’s Pride also marks a decade since the death of gay teenager Michael Causer, who died on August 2, 2008, after a vicious homophobic attack and the extension of Come out the Shadows until then will reflect this. The Liverpool Pride March officially starts the Liverpool Pride weekend on Saturday 28 July, starting from St George’s Hall and finishing at Moorfields.
Michael Carey, from Liverpool Pride Festival, said: “Come Out of the Shadows is in its third year and is going from strength to strength. Our aim is simple, to challenge hate crime.
“It also seems fitting that in light of the transphobic incident at London Pride that we illuminate the sky in the colours of both the LGBT+ and trans flags ensuring the message of equality for all is spread across the Liverpool city region.”