We had the best time at Liverpool Pride this year. The weather was nice(ish), organisation was great and the overall atmosphere was friendly, summery, and a hell of a lot of fun. Although obviously the event is firmly rooted in LGBT awareness, the one-day festival felt this year felt like a massive celebration of Liverpool being welcoming and great: straight, gay, bi, transgender, young, old, families - everyone was embraced with open arms and partied all day (and, er, night. And the following morning) long.

So we’re hugely pleased to hear today that its return in 2012 has been officially confirmed.

It’s not all hands-in-the-air-hooray-let’s-get-our-outfits-ready just yet, though. Because of severe council budget cuts across the board, Pride’s having to do a serious amount of fundraising to keep everything moving for next year. And all this despite the fact it brought in over £2.6million to the city over 2011 Pride weekend.

First up is Camp as Christmas at the newly re-opened Dome venue on 17th December, hoping to get the first batch of cash in the piggy bank for next year. It does what it says on the tin: X Factor’s Diva Fever play, as do Rikki Beadle Blair, Caz & Brit, Barbieshop, Emma Dears and a slew of the city’s drag queens and DJs. Basically, it sounds like the ideal replacement for that office Christmas party you’re going to avoid. All the details here.

Pride are also asking you to do your bit for next year, however small. If you fancy doing a charity run, baking some cakes, growing your armpit hair (alright, maybe not) or doing any bits of fundraising you think might help out with paying for next year’s bash, they’re urging you to get involved. Because, as anyone who went this year will attest, it’s worth it for the huge, free celebration that’s at the end of the rainbow.

Liverpool Pride, 4 August 2012
Liverpool City Centre
www.liverpoolpride.co.uk

Image: Jennifer Welch