Latest news with #SahirHouse
BBC News
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
All you need to know for Liverpool Pride 2025
Thousands of people are expected to head to Liverpool this weekend for Pride celebrations, one of the highlights of the city's cultural authorities have said they are expecting large crowds for the event on what is expected to be a hot weekend. Where will the march take place? Liverpool's Pride march will follow a new route this year, which starts at the city's Pier Head on 26 July for the first start at 11:30 BST and will follow a route that begins at the Three Graces on the city's then runs along Strand Street and Salthouse Quay at the Albert Dock before ending at the M&S Bank Arena, where a ticketed event will take place at 12: new route has been designed to be fully accessible, step-free and wheelchair friendly to ensure the whole community can get involved in the celebrations, organisers said. This year's event is being run by Liverpool-based LGBT charity Sahir House for the first time. Both Liverpool and Everton Football clubs will be present at the march, Sahir House chief executive Ant Hopkinson said "sends a powerful message of unity, inclusion and love".This years' march will be led by a representative group of local trans community members, organised by Protect Scouse Hopkinson said it was "not just a celebration".It was also "a moment to reflect on the hardships faced on our communities as well and stand in solidarity together and think what can we do to support each other", he added. What is happening at M&S Bank Arena? The march ends at the M&S Bank Arena where an afternoon of "LGBTQ+ joy, creativity and community" is set to take the acts at the show are House of Suarez, Joey and the Hot Tub Boys, Rainbow Chorus, Proud Marys and many other singers, dancers, drag performers and will also be a marketplace packed with local artists, indie makers, queer-owned businesses and services, organisers said. Doors open at 12:30 BST and tickets cost £5.50 with a 50p booking fee. What are other events are happening? Elsewhere Royal Albert Dock Liverpool there will be an afternoon of free entertainment and music. Anchor Courtyard, on the corner of Gower Street and Salthouse Quay, will be transformed into an open-air party 13:00- 16:30 there will be DJ sets playing "upbeat non-stop feel-good anthems" from on a pop-up stage. A specially-decorated bike sound system will also cruise on a boat around the inner quay from 14:00-16:00 BST, playing music. The Museum of Liverpool is also hosting a series of events across the weekend in partnership with Pride in include an exhibition on the life and career of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood frontman Holly is focused on finding queer community and friendship in Liverpool by Liverpool-based poet and student Cyrus Allen and Liverpool-based photographer Emily Collins. And a special reflective service is being held at Liverpool Cathedral on Sunday at 18:30 BST to mark Liverpool Pride 2025. How many people are going? With thousands expected to descend on the city centre Merseyside Police have issued advice to people about how to stay safe at the event."Liverpool is renowned for warmly welcoming thousands of people to the city, and this Saturday is no exception as we are anticipating high volumes of people travelling to the area to enjoy everything it has to offer," Ch Insp Dave Morgan said: "Saturday is expected to be a warm day, so we urge people to be prepared for the weather, drink sensibly and please look out for each other.""As with any large event, we remind the public to be vigilant, trust their instincts and report anything that they see that doesn't feel rightThere will be some road closures in place around the waterfront and Pier Head people are advised to use public transport and alternative routes and plan their journeys. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
ITV News
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Thousands expected to descend on city centre for saved Liverpool's Pride march
Tens of thousands of people are expected to march through Liverpool to celebrate Pride after celebrations were almost cancelled due to financial pressures. The annual celebrations had originally been called off for 2025, due to rising costs and difficulty securing funding, but it was saved when the region's LGBTQ+ and HIV charity Sahir House stepped in to run the event. Now called Liverpool's Pride, organisers say they "are pulling out all the stops" to uplift often marginalised members of the queer community, like Trans people, refugees, and those living with disabilities. What is the history behind Liverpool Pride? Liverpool's first official Pride event was held the weekend of 7 August 2010. It typically takes place at the end of July or early August to commemorate the death of Michael Causer, an 18-year-old gay man who was murdered in Liverpool. Michael died in hospital after he was seriously assaulted at a house party on 25 July 2008. His family, who set up a foundation in his name to help other young LGBTQ+ people, say he was killed because of his sexual orientation. When is this year's new Pride event taking place in Liverpool? Liverpool's Pride is taking place on Saturday 26 July. What is the new route for Liverpool's Pride march? The event, which has previously taken place at St George's Hall, will start at the city's Pier Head for the first time. Local LGBTQ+ activists and community voices will lead speeches from 10.30am at Pier Head before the parade at 11.30am. The route will begin from Three Graces at the city's waterfront, along Strand Street and Salthouse Quay at the Albert Dock before ending at the M&S Bank Arena where a ticketed event will take place at noon. The 2025 march will be led by trans rights group Protect Scouse Dolls, followed by Block One – the only designated marching block, created specifically for LGBTQ+ people living with disabilities and neurodivergent LGBTQ+ people. Organisers say they will "set the pace" for the rest of the march, "helping to create a calmer, more accessible experience for everyone". Liverpool Pride say the new route has been designed to be shorter, step-free and wheelchair friendly to ensure the everybody can enjoy the parade. Is anything happening after the march? The march concludes at the M&S Bank Arena, leading straight into a main celebration event - a vibrant afternoon of LGBTQ+ joy, creativity, and community. Four hours of live performances are scheduled to take place by a wide variety of "incredible" local LGBTQ+ performers The event will also feature a community marketplace with around 40 stalls including charities, queer makers, food, drink, and services The inclusive event is for everyone who marched with Pride – and for those cheering us on from the side-lines - with tickets costing £5.50. Why did LCR Pride cancel the 2025 event and how was it saved? The LCR Pride Foundation, the charity behind the annual March with Pride, announced in June that the event was cancelled due to 'significant financial and organisational challenges'. Organisers said it had become impossible to deliver the event, which had been scheduled for Saturday 26 July, due to rising costs and a struggle to secure both local and national funding. It added that reverting to "a mainly volunteer-led model" and tight planning timescales also played a major part. But a month after the announcement, Sahir House, the city's oldest LGBTQ+ charity, shared on social media that they had 'turned things around' and Pride was back on. The charity said in a statement on its website: 'This year, we're proudly calling it Liverpool's Pride – with an apostrophe and an 's' – because this Pride belongs to all of us.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Liverpool's new Pride route for 2025 revealed
A new route for Liverpool's Pride march has been revealed. The celebration of LGBTQ+ communities had been cancelled for 2025 amid financial pressures but was saved earlier this month when charity Sahir House stepped in to run the event. The event, which has previously taken place at St George's Hall, will start at the city's Pier Head for the first time on 26 July. Ant Hopkinson, chief executive officer at Sahir, said Pier Head "will transform into a rainbow of colours as the community comes together - providing a breathtaking visual of Liverpool's determination and community spirit to the world". The new route has been designed to be fully accessible, step-free and wheelchair friendly to ensure the whole community can get involved in the celebrations, organisers said. Celebrations start at 11:30 BST and will follow a route from Three Graces at the city's waterfront, along Strand Street and Salthouse Quay at the Albert Dock before ending at the M&S Bank Arena where a ticketed event will take place at 12:30. "Making sure that the route for Liverpool's Pride 2025 was fully accessible was a key priority for the team at Sahir," Mr Hopkinson said. "The refreshed route for this year ensures that all members of the LGBTQ+ community are able to join the celebrations in their entirety." The march will be led by a representative group of local trans community members, organised by Protect Scouse Dolls. Mr Hopkinson said it was "not just a celebration" as there needed to be "a moment to reflect on the hardships faced on our communities as well and stand in solidarity together and think what can we do to support each other". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. City's Pride event back on after charity steps in Charity launches fundraiser 'to make Pride happen' Liverpool Pride cancelled amid financial pressures Record crowds descend on city's Pride event LCR Pride
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Liverpool's new Pride route for 2025 revealed
A new route for Liverpool's Pride march has been celebration of LGBTQ+ communities had been cancelled for 2025 amid financial pressures but was saved earlier this month when charity Sahir House stepped in to run the event, which has previously taken place at St George's Hall, will start at the city's Pier Head for the first time on 26 Hopkinson, chief executive officer at Sahir, said Pier Head "will transform into a rainbow of colours as the community comes together - providing a breathtaking visual of Liverpool's determination and community spirit to the world". The new route has been designed to be fully accessible, step-free and wheelchair friendly to ensure the whole community can get involved in the celebrations, organisers start at 11:30 BST and will follow a route from Three Graces at the city's waterfront, along Strand Street and Salthouse Quay at the Albert Dock before ending at the M&S Bank Arena where a ticketed event will take place at 12:30. "Making sure that the route for Liverpool's Pride 2025 was fully accessible was a key priority for the team at Sahir," Mr Hopkinson said."The refreshed route for this year ensures that all members of the LGBTQ+ community are able to join the celebrations in their entirety."The march will be led by a representative group of local trans community members, organised by Protect Scouse Hopkinson said it was "not just a celebration" as there needed to be "a moment to reflect on the hardships faced on our communities as well and stand in solidarity together and think what can we do to support each other". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Liverpool Pride back on after LGBTQ+ charity steps up
Liverpool Pride is back on this year, after an LGBTQ+ charity has stepped in to help facilitate and coordinate a city-wide, community-led celebration. The original organisers, LCR Pride Foundation, originally cancelled their 26 July party and parade plans due to 'significant financial and organisational challenges, which have impacted timescales and resulted in it reverting to an almost entirely volunteer-led operation'. But Sahir House, the city's oldest LGBTQ+ charity, shared on social media that they have 'turned things around' and Pride will be 'louder, prouder, and truly ours.' This year's Pride in Liverpool will see a new march route, a queer arena celebration, as well as activities for families and a Pride Quarter family as Sahir House said 'pride is for everyone.' It comes after The Independent reported last week that Pride organisers are warning Donald Trump's DEI rollback in the states was having an effect in the UK, with UK Pride Organisers Network (UKPON) cited a decline in corporate sponsorships for 75 per cent of Pride events across the UK this year. Organisers said that big corporations that had long sponsored Pride were 'pulling back their funding in all aspects', especially if they have head offices in the US. Dee Llewellyn, chair of UKPON and director of partnerships and growth for London Pride, said support for Pride had 'fallen off a cliff', causing a number of events across the country close their doors, including big events such as Liverpool. Sahir House has set a goal of £60,000 in order to fund its grassroots Pride celebration, having so far managed to raise £15,416. John Hyland, former co-chair of Liverpool Pride and the Community Partnerships and Individual Giving Lead for Sahir, had told The Independent that now more than ever before, Pride was necessary. 'I think definitely in light of what's happened with the Supreme Court ruling, we've had a number of number of transgender community-led protests happen in Liverpool,' he said. 'If there's a year where we need Pride to happen, it's this year and our community has been very vocal about that.' The charity said in a statement on its website: '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. '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.' Pride will kick off in the city with a grassroots celebration in Prescot, taking place at Shakespeare North Playhouse on 19 July with creative workshops, spoken word, 'a symbolic Pride demonstration' with flash mobs, as well as social spaces and community connection. 'Let's celebrate Pride together, where every voice is heard and every identity shines', a statement read.
