Charity launches fundraiser 'to make Pride happen'

It was announced last week that Liverpool's Pride celebrations had been axed amid financial concerns

A charity has launched a fundraising campaign to host an alternative Pride event in Liverpool after the annual celebration and march in the city was cancelled.

LCR Pride announced last week that the march, due to take place in July, would no longer happen because of financial challenges.

Ant Hopkinson, the chief executive of the Sahir House charity, said it had pledged to raise money to help facilitate an alternative event because "Liverpool deserves a Pride".

"Pride is a protest, pride is a celebration. It means many things to different people," he said.city's

"We've realised as a city that no one organisation should own and operate something like Pride."

Ant Hopkinson said Pride should be "owned by everyone"

Mr Hopkinson said the charity had been approached by lots of "disappointed and concerned" people.

He said a range of potential cash-generating ideas had been suggested but there was a "very significant challenge" of only seven weeks to arrange an event in time for July.

"We have a list of aspirations - we are currently pulling together community stakeholders, partners and local people to see what's possible," he said.

With ideas ranging from a rally and a peaceful march to a street festival, Mr Hopkinson said the community "would be at the heart of the plans".

"Liverpool is all about community," he said.

"Pride is owned by everyone. Let's have a Pride that centres around community.

"The idea of working as a collective, as a collaborative of individuals and organisations, works much better and actually feels more Scouse and more authentic."