Reds set for Pride march
Liverpool FC is taking a stand against homophobia this weekend by becoming the first Premier League club to be officially represented at a UK 'Pride' event.
The club will provide a banner for Liverpool Pride on Saturday, while representatives from LFC Ladies and the LFC Foundation will march alongside LFC LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender).
The Reds will also have a stall at the festival's Pier Head site and will provide signed merchandise for fundraising auctions.
Last year more than 44,000 people supported the event.
Headline acts for this year's festival include Dance Dynamix, Marcus Collins, Jess Wright and Sophie.
Managing director Ian Ayre said: "Here at LFC, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that equality and principles of inclusion are embedded into all areas of Liverpool Football Club and for many years we have taken positive steps to promote our stance against homophobia both on and off the pitch.
"I am delighted to confirm that some club employees and members from the Liverpool Ladies squad will be participating in the event.
"The event is certainly a positive talking point around Liverpool and it's an excellent platform to attract local communities and people from across the country to experience the diverse culture of our fantastic city."
LFC has already worked with Liverpool Pride on the Football v Homophobia tournament, which was hosted at the club's Academy for the first time earlier this year.
The club also supports the Justin Campaign, a national initiative aiming to challenge LGBT misconceptions.
Zoran Blackie, chair of Liverpool Pride, said: "Liverpool Football Club have been going through huge changes and one of them is to work closely with all their supporters.
"Now by standing alongside us for the march, LFC are showing the LGBT community in the city that 'we'll never walk alone'."
Liverpool Pride 2012 will take place at the city's iconic Pier Head and throughout the Stanley Street Quarter.
The festival's 'Nautical but Nice' theme coincides with the 100-year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and also celebrates the city's rich maritime history.