LJMU takes to the streets for Liverpool Pride

The event on Saturday 30 July was held for the first time in three years and saw the march process through major shopping streets, the gay quarter along Stanley Street, ending in a colourful festival along Liverpool’s Pier Head. 

Amongst LJMU’s staff and students were Claire Milsom, Registrar, alongside PVCs Laura Bishop, Raphaela Kane and Keith George, plus the newly elected JMSU officers.  

The fifty from LJMU donned rainbow t-shirts and banners and took to the streets as thousands celebrated in Liverpool.  

The feeling of reunion was made especially powerful by the appearance of an LJMU alumni who returned to Liverpool in 2020 after forty years away.  Steve Milsom studied at Liverpool Polytechnic for nine years, receiving a BSc in Applied Biology, and a PhD in Ecology in 1979, before going to work for the National Research Councils in Swindon.  On his last night in Liverpool, he met his now lifelong partner, Ian Bell, a scouser, and his reason for returning to the city. 

(Left) Then: Steve Milson (third from left) at London's 3rd Pride March 1975 with a Liverpool Polytechnic banner. 

(Right) Now: Steve and partner Ian recreated the photo with LJMU's student officers from JMSU at Liverpool Pride 2022

LJMU’s Pride was organised by LJMU’s Student Inclusion Lead, Phil Backstad and LJMU’s Equality Team. 

Co-Chair of the LJMU LGBTQI+ staff network, Zee Marquis, said: 

"It was brilliant to see so many people in attendance at the pride march itself, and how many of our staff, no matter their background, came along to support this event.  

“As a queer person myself, this makes me hopeful for the future, that the LGBTQI+ network, alongside the EDI team, can make LJMU as an institution, a safe and comfortable place to learn and work for all of our students and staff.”