LFC to support Liverpool Pride 2016
Liverpool FC is once again supporting Liverpool Pride with a whole host of initiatives taking place across the club to celebrate the annual festival.
Liverpool Pride was established in 2010 and coincides with the anniversary of when murdered gay teenager Michael Causer tragically lost his life.
Michael died on August 2 2008, and the festival was specifically created in his memory as a way to celebrate his life and empower the LGBT communities. This year’s Liverpool Pride takes place the weekend before what would have also been Michael’s 27th birthday.
In 2012, the Reds became the first Premier League club to support a UK Pride march.
As part of the week-long celebrations, Anfield’s famous Kop will be lit up in the colours of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rainbow flag from Saturday July 23 until Sunday July 31. The installation will form part of Liverpool Pride’s ‘Come out of the Shadows’ initiative, which will see prominent buildings across the Liverpool City region light up each night using colours from the iconic LGBT rainbow flag.
LFC staff across the city’s retail stores and Anfield ticket office also will don colourful and creative clothing to show the club’s support for ‘Dress with Pride’ – an initiative to help raise awareness of the city’s LGBT communities and Liverpool Pride Festival 2016.
On Saturday July 31 LFC representatives will a march alongside the LGBT community in a celebration of the culture of the city.
The event promises to be one of the city's most flamboyant occasions of the summer, with the march beginning and ending at St George's Hall. This years’ theme is Liverpool Icons, which was suggested in tribute after the death of singer, tv personality and Liverpool fan Cilla Black.
It promises to be a fun filled two days with the prestigious St George’s Quarter transformed into a colourful festival site bursting with activities, including live music and entertainment, food and drink zones, community and education zones, a market place and family activities.
This year’s festival will also see the launch Kop Outs – an LGBT fan group for Liverpool fans. The group will provide a social group for LGBT fans and their friends to meet up, provide a safe and welcoming space, and encourage LGBT fans to attend matches in confidence.
Paul Amann, LGBT fan representative for the Liverpool FC official Supporters Committee said: "The club's continued support for Liverpool Pride, participation in ‘Come out of the Shadows’ and ‘Dress with Pride’, and the club's recognition of Kop Outs, truly shows that LFC is committed to making sure Liverpool's LGBT communities will never walk alone."
For more information on Liverpool Pride, please click here.