Liverpool Pride To Shine A Light On Diversity with Come Out of the Shadows

Iconic buildings across Liverpool will be illuminated in rainbow colours this Thursday (20 July) as the city shines a light on diversity with the return of the spectacular Come Out of The Shadows.

Last year, Liverpool Pride saw more than 30 buildings across Liverpool City Region be adorned in the iconic rainbow colours to raise awareness of LGBT+ hate crimes and to showcase Liverpool as a visibly LGBT+ friendly city.

Organisers are delighted to confirm that more partners are on-board to support this year's Come Out of The Shadows, which runs until Sunday 30 July.

A number of Liverpool and the wider city region's most famous and recognisable buildings have pledged their support and will come alive with the colours of Pride. The initiative is supported by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Cultural buildings being illuminated include St George's Hall Liverpool; Liverpool Central Library; Liverpool Town Hall; The Bluecoat; FACT; Liverpool Everyman Theatre; New Brighton's Floral Pavilion; The Atkinson in Southport; World Museum; and DR. Martin Luther King Jr. Building, part of National Museums Liverpool, at Albert Dock Liverpool (lit for Pride weekend only).

Also taking part are the Cunard Building at Pier Head Liverpool; St John's Beacon; ECHO Arena; Merseyside Police Headquarters; Liverpool John Lennon Airport; Barclays Bank on Lord Street; Regenda Group on Commutation Row opposite St George's Hall Plateau; and the tunnel at James Street Station.

Liverpool Football Club is also backing the initiative once again after successfully lighting up the Kop in 2016.

This year, the landmark buildings are also being joined by a whole host of other locations, including Knowsley's Greystone Footbridge; Our Place Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park; Steve Prescot Bridge in St Helens; Isla Gladstone Conservatory in Stanley Park; and Crosby Library.

Come Out of The Shadows has the support of all six local authorities across Liverpool City Region, and town halls in Bootle, Wallasey and St Helens will also be illuminated.

Come Out of The Shadows aims to showcase Liverpool, both inwardly and outwardly, as an inclusive, diverse and tolerant LGBT+ friendly city, while at the same time helping to educate, raise awareness and normalise LGBT+ in all its forms. The overall aim is to make Liverpool a safer place for residents and visitors alike.

The colourful 10-day initiative takes place in the run up to, and during, this year's Liverpool Pride festival. 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, as well as a public exhibition in Liverpool ONE.

Michael Carey, from Liverpool Pride Festival, said: "Now in its second year, Come Out of The Shadows is simply about challenging hate crime. This year the country is celebrating the 50th anniversary since the decriminalisation of homosexuality yet, despite this legal success and improvements with equal rights, the LGBT+ community still faces the threat of crime, intolerance and violence purely because of who they choose to love.

"Supported by key partners across Liverpool City Region, we ask you to reflect on why this campaign is important and to help us change attitudes to make LGBT+ hate crime a thing of the past."

Now in its eighth consecutive year, the festival will take place across two days - Saturday 29 July and Sunday 30 July. The theme of this year's Liverpool Pride is International Love, complementing the city's wider 50 Summers of Love festival, which celebrates 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

The annual Liverpool Pride March takes place on 29 July, and there will also be an afternoon and evening of entertainment in the St George's Quarter, headlined by Atomic Kitten.

We Are Family day takes place on 30 July, and there is also a busy series of fringe events planned with theatre, cinema, literature and music events alongside a number of exhibitions.

Liverpool Pride Festival 2017 is supported by headline sponsor Barclays, who are embarking upon a 12-month community partnership which will provide access to employment and financial services, as well as access to training for digital and financial awareness supported by the many Barclays colleagues across its branch network and contact centres in Kirkby and Wavertree Technology Park. Barclays is proud to be a Stonewall Top Global Employer and to be recognised as the Stonewall Top Global Ally Programme 2017.

Further support for the Liverpool Pride Festival 2017 also comes from Manchester Airport as the official Airport Sponsor; Radio City as the official Media Partner; Homes For Everyone; and Signature Living as the official Hotel Partner.

Keep up to date with news from Liverpool Pride at:

Website www.liverpoolpride.co.uk

Facebook LiverpoolPride

Twitter @LiverpoolPride

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