Sahir’s Statement

Sahir is deeply concerned by the scenes witnessed in Liverpool city centre this week, including reports of racist abuse and criminal damage.

Liverpool is a city shaped by generations of people coming together from different backgrounds, cultures and countries. That shared history continues to define who we are, and remains a source of strength and pride.

At the same time, we recognise that recent events, both locally and globally, are impacting the visibility, rights and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ communities, as well as the people we support more broadly. We understand the uncertainty and concern this can create.

At Sahir, we work alongside LGBT+ people, people living with HIV, and people seeking asylum. We see the challenges many face when arriving in the UK after fleeing persecution, violence and discrimination. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion and respect.

Sahir is, and will always be, a supportive, inclusive and safe organisation. We are committed to protecting, supporting and advocating for the people we serve, ensuring everyone can access our services with confidence.

We encourage everyone to check in on friends, neighbours and colleagues who may be feeling anxious or vulnerable, and to offer support where they can.

While the right to peaceful protest is important, there is no place for behaviour that causes harm or division within our communities.

Liverpool is strongest when it stands together. We remain committed to building inclusive, welcoming communities where everyone feels safe and valued.

Today, we are sharing our report on Liverpool’s Pride 2025, reflecting on a summer moment that brought our communities together with joy, pride and purpose.

Liverpool’s Pride is rooted in protest, care and celebration. It is about being visible, being loud, and being held by community.

We did not rush this report. We took time to listen, to reflect honestly, and to learn. That mattered, not just because Pride deserves care, but because of the wider context in which Pride festivals and celebrations have been operating.

Over the past year, many Pride festivals and celebrations across the country have faced incredibly difficult circumstances, including financial strain, capacity pressures and questions about sustainability. We were mindful of this when deciding when to publish our report, choosing to give space to those challenges rather than adding to an already difficult moment for Pride organisers and communities elsewhere.

This report celebrates what went well and names where we were stretched. It sets out the real work involved in delivering Liverpool’s Pride at this scale and the financial and organisational pressures that come with it. It is offered in the spirit of transparency, accountability and care for our community.

Pipper Marler, Deputy Chair, said
“Pride is about people knowing they belong. Liverpool’s Pride 2025 showed the strength, warmth and creativity of our community. This report holds onto that joy while being honest about the challenges we face if Pride festivals and celebrations are to be sustainable in the long term.”

Looking ahead to July 2026, we know there is energy and hope for the future of Liverpool’s Pride. We share that hope. We want Pride in this city to continue to be bold, joyful and rooted in community voices.

But we also need to be clear. Our first responsibility is to the people who rely on our services every day.

We need to raise around £75K before the end of this financial year to secure Sahir’s future and protect our essential LGBTQ+ and HIV support services. Without this stability, we cannot responsibly commit to developing Pride at the scale our community deserves.

Ant Hopkinson, CEO, said
“We cannot stand alone. Strong Pride festivals and celebrations depend on strong community organisations. Securing Sahir’s future is the first step towards securing the future of Liverpool’s Pride.”

We remain committed to Liverpool’s Pride. We want to help shape Pride 2026 and beyond, and we have community led ideas ready to develop. But sustainability, care and responsibility must come first.

Our call to our community is clear.

Please help us secure Sahir’s future by getting involved, donating and fundraising. By doing this, we can then move forward with confidence to develop Liverpool’s Pride 2026 with care, ambition and joy.

Together, we can protect what matters and build what comes next.

Read Liverpool’s Pride 2025 report Ways to support Sahir