Pride in Liverpool cancelled due to ‘uncertainty’ over Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown
Liverpool Pride has officially been cancelled for the second year in a row. (PrideinLPool/Twitter)
The LCR Pride Foundation has confirmed that Pride in Liverpool 2021 has been cancelled due to uncertainty around mass public gatherings.
The foundation, which organises the annual event, said that it had investigated all possible options to run the march but didn’t see a safe way to go ahead in July.
In an official statement, the chair of the LCR Pride Foundation’s board of directors, Lewis Collins, said: “Our decision to cancel Pride in Liverpool and March with Pride for 2021 has not been taken lightly.
“The organisation’s team and board have worked tirelessly with Liverpool City Council and other partners to explore all possibilities, but despite these efforts we have not found an option that would allow us to confidently proceed and deliver an event that would guarantee the safety, health and enjoyment of the people who attend each year, and the suppliers, businesses and partners that support the event.”
Boris Johnson’s roadmap to ease lockdown restrictions in the UK says the government hopes to “lift restrictions on large events and performances” on 21 June. However, this will continue to be assessed based on infection rates and the vaccine rollout.
The organisation still plans to have a themed programme of digital events to celebrate Pride in Liverpool and give visibility to the local LGBT+ community.
It confirmed the cancellation of last year’s event in June, saying on Twitter that Pride would “be returning to the city’s streets in 2021 bigger and better than ever”.
However, Collins has now confirmed: “We will of course continue to monitor the situation and explore smaller region-wide events, while also looking to our 2022 celebrations and preparing for what we are sure will be an incredible return for Pride in Liverpool.”
Pride events across the UK are facing similar uncertainty
Pride in London has been pushed forward to September 2021, after being cancelled in 2020.
Birmingham Pride has similarly opted for a September date to maximise chances of the event going ahead.
Manchester Pride is still planning to go ahead on the August bank holiday weekend, as usual. Tickets went on sale this month, but the lineup is yet to be announced.
