Any young person identifying themselves as lesbian or gay, need a safe place. A place where they can go and meet other like minded young people. Somewhere that they can comfortably discuss their sexuality and gain the confidence and support to 'come-out'.
GYRO - 'gay youth 'r' out', is a part of the Young Person's Advisory Service in Liverpool. GYRO have been supporting Liverpool's gay youth since 1976. They provide support with any problems that may be faced. Often for the gay youth, it is the gateway to the larger gay community.
Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008. A lively, vibrant and extremely cosmopolitan city. It prides its self on having a wide and diverse array of communities.
Liverpool has a large thriving Gay community. Liverpool doesn't have the usual 'Gay Pride' festival, though it soon will have. What it does have, however, is 'Homotopia', a two week annual festival celebrating and show casing gay culture, including theatre, film, photography, and art. The gay community is what makes Liverpool's art and cultural life stand out from the rest.
'Outsiders' is a lesbian and gay film festival, which brings all the latest gay film premiers to Liverpool. Audiences are vast growing and it is well on it's way to becoming the UK's leading gay film festival.
Liverpool's Gay Quarter, known locally as the 'Gay Village', is situated in the town centre. It is a hustle and bustle of bars and restaurants and lively night clubs. It's a place to meet old friends and make new friends. Liverpool city council, with the help of a European grant, is about to start work on a pedestrianisation scheme that will ban traffic from the area after 10pm on weekends, allowing clubbers to flow out onto the streets. The scheme will give the Gay Quarter a more Continental, edgy feel.
In 2008 the Lesbian and Gay Network was set up. The main aim for this is to bring local individuals and organisations together to give the gay community a bigger voice and greater say in local decision making.
Sports also play a large part in the community. 'Mersey Marauders' are a Liverpool gay football team. They are members of the 'Gay Football Supporters Network'. They play against other gay football teams throughout the UK and Ireland.
As you can see Liverpool has a lot to offer its gay community. I can't however finish without mentioning the 'Mr Gay' UK beauty contest. The winner of which then goes on to compete in 'Mr Gay' Europe. 2007's winner of 'Mr Gay' Europe was in fact a student from Liverpool University. Sadly though he was representing his home country of Germany and not Liverpool.