KyivPride: Thousands march in Ukraine Pride in Liverpool

Organisers saw it as an opportunity to continue the legacy after Liverpool hosted Eurovision for Ukraine earlier this year

Crowds of people have marched in Liverpool, as the city hosted Pride on behalf of Ukraine.

Liverpool City Region Pride Foundation pledged to host KyivPride after Ukraine banned the staging of marches following the Russian invasion.

After the city hosted Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine, organisers saw it as an opportunity to continue the legacy.

Hundreds of LGBT+ Ukrainians marched alongside people celebrating Liverpool's annual Pride event.

Liverpool is continuing the legacy of hosting Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine this year

Andi Herring, head of Liverpool City Region Pride Foundation, said: "LGBT+ people are a global community, and that's why it is crucial that we 'shout it loud' in solidarity with all LGBT+ people across the world.

"We are honoured to be hosting KyivPride this year and standing alongside the work they do in Ukraine for our community. Of course, it would be hard to forget our reasons behind hosting Eurovision and the lasting bond with Ukraine that will remain with us."

Last year, more than 15,000 people took to the streets for Pride in Liverpool, which sees the city's streets come alive with music, dancing and costume every year.

Edward Reese, one of KyivPride's organisers, travelled to Liverpool for the march and hopes it will be used as a chance for protest for equal marriage in Ukraine.

KyivPride organiser Edward Reese hoped the event would be a chance to protest

He said: "If a queer soldier is killed in the war, their partner cannot inherit anything, they cannot receive any information if their partner is injured, or killed.

"And in Ukraine, even if you're not fighting directly, if you're living in any of the cities, you can be killed by Russian rockets any moment. So we desperately need the right to marry."

The free event started at St George's Plateau at 10:30 BST with a series of speeches, before the march to the waterfront.

Hundreds of LGBT+ Ukrainians and their allies waved Ukrainian flags, pride flags and pictures of LGBT+ soldiers who are on the frontline back home.

Hundreds of LGBT+ Ukrainians marched alongside people celebrating Liverpool's annual Pride event

Edward added: "We are directly asking for more weapons for them, and to ask for any help that the world can provide and that Britain can provide for us."

KyivPride was created in 2012 and is Ukraine's largest LGBT+ event.

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Over the years the march has been a target for violence, but in September 2021, just months before the invasion, organisers celebrated their first-ever peaceful march.

Founder member Lenny Emson said: "The Russian invasion took our right to march away from us, but international solidarity gives us a chance to keep marching."

Liverpool is continuing the legacy of hosting Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine this year

Kate Ozatska, whose grandmother's home was affected by the recent Russian attack in Dnipro, told BBC Newsbeat she felt "complicated" about taking part in the event in Liverpool, "especially today, because the missile attack happened right in my city".

"It feels a bit weird having fun at the same time. But it's not just having fun, we also have a mission here," she added.

"We don't just represent queer people, but also Ukraine. It seems like some people have started to forget the war is still happening and we need support.

"There are still people dying and people need to know we are here. We are here and we are queer."

Mohammed Nazir Uddin, who travelled from London to join the event in Liverpool, said: "Until all of us are free, none of us are free."

The 25-year-old, who is from Bangladesh, where people can be jailed for same-sex intercourse, said: "It's hard to be who you are where I was born. So that's why I had to escape my own country and come to a safe environment.

"By coming to the UK, I can experience the true meaning of my life.

"All of our LGBT community in Bangladesh live a secret life. People have to get married forcefully to opposite genders, just to make their family happy."

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