The LCR Pride Foundation has revealed its annual theme for 2021/22 as “From Now On” – set to be the most activism and community-focused theme since the organisation’s establishment in 2019.
It highlights the challenges still faced by the LGBT+ community in Liverpool City Region and globally and calls on individuals, businesses and organisations to do their part to enact change “From Now On”.
The theme launch comes in the wake of both the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBT+ community, and a series of setbacks to LGBT+ rights in the UK, including the Government’s abandonment of plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) and slow progress in response to calls to ban conversion therapy.
To mark the theme launch and start of the new campaign year, the LCR Pride Foundation is appealing for people to complete a survey to identify the changes needed to better support the LGBT+ community and advance their rights, which will inform the organisation’s focus moving forward.
Andi Herring, CEO of the LCR Pride Foundation, said:
“This year our theme is about drawing a line in the sand, challenging the issues that the LGBT+ community still faces and saying ‘from now on, we’re doing things differently’.
“This isn’t just about identifying and acknowledging the changes that are needed to ensure that all LGBT+ people can live their authentic lives safely, happily and healthily, it’s about taking action to make those changes and it will underpin everything that we do over the next 12 months.
“It’s a call to action to the region’s LGBT+ community and its allies – individuals and organisations – to step up and do their part. The Liverpool City Region has a long and proud history of grassroots activism and this theme celebrates and encourages that. If we all pledge to make a difference from now on, in whatever way we can, we will be one step closer to improving the lives of LGBT+ people and making the city region the most LGBT+ friendly in the UK.”
The theme, which will ask people across the region “what will you change?”, will underpin a full digital programme and the LCR Pride Foundation will next month be launching online resources to support people’s pledges and help them better engage in activism to support the community.
Following the cancellation of Pride in Liverpool 2021 last month, funding provided by headline sponsor Barclays will now be redirected into alternative activities, such as an online programme featuring the return of the digital iteration of the Film With Pride programme, virtual interviews with LGBT+ champions and allies, digital panel discussions and Q&A sessions, with smaller in-person events also expected to resume later in the year.
Updates will be shared in the LCR Pride Foundation weekly ‘Get up and Glow’ newsletter, which is sent to subscribers every Monday morning. People can sign up to receive it here.
For more information on the theme, events and organisational activities visit: https://lcrpride.co.uk
