• Mayor praises city region as beacon for diversity and vows to fight discrimination

• Special 50th anniversary event unveils new route parade from St Georges Hall to Pier Head

• All-day music festival to be headlined by disco legends Boney M

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region (LCR), has said he is “fiercely committed” to protecting diversity ahead of LCR Pride this weekend.

The Mayor pledged his support to the ongoing fight against discrimination and injustice in a message of solidarity with the city region’s LGBT+ community.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“LCR Pride embodies the very best of our city region: exceptionally warm, inclusive and accepting and home to a vibrant and diverse community of people from every walk of life.

“We see our diversity as one of our greatest strengths and celebrate the right of our people to live safely, happily and in any way they choose. I feel incredibly fortunate to represent the 1.6 million people who call this place ‘home’ and I’m committed to fiercely protecting their diversity in all its forms.

“Events around the world over past few years have shown that there is still a long way to go in the fight against discrimination and injustice. I think it’s more important than ever for us to remember that despite some progress – we still have work to do.

“It’s been three years since we were last able to meet together in person and I’m looking forward to marching – and celebrating – in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community at the weekend. Have fun – be safe and I’ll see you there!”

The annual LCR Pride celebration takes to the streets for the first time since 2019 this weekend with a host of events across the city region and a free music festival at Liverpool’s Pier Head, including a raft of local and international names and a headline slot for disco legends Boney M.

Celebrations begin with a “March with Pride” from St Georges Hall at midday, which makes its way down to the Pier Head where festivities will continue until 8pm.

Pride 2022 represents a special milestone in the fight against intolerance, marking 50 years since the first London parade in 1972.

LCR Pride, which began in 2010, is organised by the LCR Pride Foundation, which receives £10,000 funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA).

The CA has been working with its six local authority areas, in Halton, Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral, to run community and grass roots events alongside the main Liverpool spectacular.

For more details and the full programme visit the LCR Pride website