Six ambitious goals have been outlined by a city charity which has stepped in after the unexpected announcement
14:30, 11 Jun 2025Updated 15:46, 11 Jun 2025
Liverpool Pride was cancelled last week(Image: Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane)
Liverpool has been asked to stand together to help save the city’s annual Pride event. Last week, it was announced that Liverpool’s Pride event and march had been cancelled for 2025.
It was due to take place on Saturday, July 26. LCR Pride Foundation, the organisation behind Pride in Liverpool and the city’s annual March with Pride, said it would not take place, because of “significant financial and organisational challenges”.
Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ community was devastated by the news and responded with a series of independently organised events around the city such as comedy nights and drag shows.
Sahir House, the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ charity and organisation for people living with HIV in the Liverpool City Region, has stepped in with an effort to save Pride – but it needs everyone’s help.
A ‘Save Liverpool Pride 2025’ fundraiser has been launched with a £60k target. You can donate here. Donations will go towards organising “six aspirations” that play a vital part of Pride.
The first aim is a rally or muster at St George’s Plateau – Liverpool Pride’s annual starting point – focusing on highlighting community voices. The second ambition is a peaceful march through the city.
Ant Hopkinson, Sahir House‘s charity leader, told the ECHO: “The general consensus from the community is that they are going to march regardless of infrastructure. We need to be visible but we need to make sure we do this safely.
“I’m pushing to have the march as safe as possible. We can’t afford to be in a position where the community becomes a target, so organising an official march which is regulated by the city is out top priority.”
A mural on Cumberland Street in Liverpool’s Pride Quarter(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Sahir House also hopes to organise a street festival in Liverpool’s Pride Quarter to support local businesses, alongside a gathering space space after the march to celebrate.
The final two goals include a children, young persons and family zone that is inclusive to everybody, and making sure that Pride platforms grassroots events and activities.
Ant added: “We were very shocked by the initial announced [that Pride was cancelled]. We were inundated with community and stakeholder asking what could we do.
“We said we will step up and facilitate and organise what we can. We don’t want to own or takeover anything. We want to empower the community and give back so that everyone can contribute towards the event. That is why we’ve organised the in-person Queer Town Hall and digital town hall so everyone can have their say on how we move forward.”
The 2024 Liverpool Pride march(Image: Liverpool Echo)
At the same time as stepping up for Pride, Sahir is also facing urgent financial pressures in delivering its vital frontline services – which support LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV across the Liverpool City Region. Right now, the charity needs to raise £20,000 every month just to keep providing the lifeline services that so many rely on.
Ant confirmed all of the donations to the fundraiser will go towards organising Pride unless there is a “massive” overflow of support. That’s why Sahir has launched a fundraiser with a £60,000 stretch target – to help deliver Pride 2025 and safeguard the charity’s year-round work.
Conversations are underway with Sahir and Liverpool City Council, Liverpool BID, local communities and city stakeholders asking for help to save Pride.
Ant said: “We are reacting to this last minute and right now there is no funding available. If Pride is to go ahead, everyone in the community and around Liverpool has to act now. Let’s do this together.
At the time of writing, the ‘Save Liverpool Pride 2025’ fundraiser currently sits at £1,767 out of a target £60,000. You can donate here.