Iconic buildings across Liverpool will be illuminated in rainbow colours
this Thursday (20 July) as the city shines a light on diversity with the
return of the spectacular Come Out of the Shadows.



Last year, Liverpool Pride saw more than 30 buildings across Liverpool City
Region be adorned in the iconic rainbow colours to raise awareness of LGBT+
hate crimes and to showcase Liverpool as a visibly LGBT+ friendly city.



Organisers are delighted to confirm that more partners are on-board to
support this year's Come Out of the Shadows, which runs until Sunday 30
July.



A number of Liverpool and the wider city region's most famous and
recognisable buildings have pledged their support and will come alive with
the colours of Pride. The initiative is supported by the Police and Crime
Commissioner.



Cultural buildings being illuminated include St George's Hall Liverpool;
Liverpool Central Library; Liverpool Town Hall; The Bluecoat; FACT;
Liverpool Everyman Theatre; New Brighton's Floral Pavilion; The Atkinson in
Southport; World Museum; and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Building, part of
National Museums Liverpool, at Albert Dock Liverpool (lit for Pride weekend
only).



Also taking part are the Cunard Building at Pier Head Liverpool; St John's
Beacon; ECHO Arena; Merseyside Police Headquarters; Liverpool John Lennon
Airport; Barclays Bank on Lord Street; Regenda Group on Commutation Row
opposite St George's Hall Plateau; and the tunnel at James Street Station.



Liverpool Football Club is also backing the initiative once again after
successfully lighting up the Kop in 2016.



This year, the landmark buildings are also being joined by a whole host of
other locations, including Knowsley's Greystone Footbridge; Our Place
Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park; Steve Prescot Bridge in St Helens; Isla
Gladstone Conservatory in Stanley Park; and Crosby Library.



Come Out of the Shadows has the support of all six local authorities across
Liverpool City Region, and town halls in Bootle, Wallasey and St Helens will
also be illuminated.



Come Out of the Shadows aims to showcase Liverpool, both inwardly and
outwardly, as an inclusive, diverse and tolerant LGBT+ friendly city, while
at the same time helping to educate, raise awareness and normalise LGBT+ in
all its forms. The overall aim is to make Liverpool a safer place for
residents and visitors alike.



The colourful 10-day initiative takes place in the run up to, and during,
this year's Liverpool Pride festival. An awareness campaign is also running
alongside Come Out of the Shadows, which highlights the initiative on the
public screens across the city's streets and venues, as well as a public
exhibition in Liverpool ONE.



Michael Carey, from Liverpool Pride Festival, said: "Now in its second year,
Come Out of the Shadows is simply about challenging hate crime. This year
the country is celebrating the 50th anniversary since the decriminalisation
of homosexuality yet, despite this legal success and improvements with equal
rights, the LGBT+ community still faces the threat of crime, intolerance and
violence purely because of who they choose to love.



"Supported by key partners across Liverpool City Region, we ask you to
reflect on why this campaign is important and to help us change attitudes to
make LGBT+ hate crime a thing of the past."



Now in its eighth consecutive year, the festival will take place across two
days - Saturday 29 July and Sunday 30 July. The theme of this year's
Liverpool Pride is International Love, complementing the city's wider 50
Summers of Love festival, which celebrates 50 years since the
decriminalisation of homosexuality.



The annual Liverpool Pride March takes place on 29 July, and there will also
be an afternoon and evening of entertainment in the St George's Quarter,
headlined by Atomic Kitten.



We Are Family day takes place on 30 July, and there is also a busy series of
fringe events planned with theatre, cinema, literature and music events
alongside a number of exhibitions.



Liverpool Pride Festival 2017 is supported by headline sponsor Barclays, who
are embarking upon a 12-month community partnership which will provide
access to employment and financial services, as well as access to training
for digital and financial awareness supported by the many Barclays
colleagues across its branch network and contact centres in Kirkby and
Wavertree Technology Park. Barclays is proud to be a Stonewall Top Global
Employer and to be recognised as the Stonewall Top Global Ally Programme
2017.



Further support for the Liverpool Pride Festival 2017 also comes from
Manchester Airport as the official Airport Sponsor; Radio City as the
official Media Partner; Homes For Everyone; and Signature Living as the
official Hotel Partner.



Keep up to date with news from Liverpool Pride at:



Website www.liverpoolpride.co.uk

Facebook LiverpoolPride

Twitter @LiverpoolPride