ST Helens is set celebrate a Virtual Pride through social media this weekend after the second annual public event had to be physically cancelled due to coronavirus.

Public events may be cancelled, but St Helens is still a place celebrating diversity.

This Sunday, July 12, St Helens will mark its second Pride event – a celebration and call for equality for the LGBTQ+ community – by holding a virtual event through social media.

The event is supported by St Helens Council’s #BetterThanThat campaign, which encourages people to make a simple online promise to support and promote equality, and will feature song and dance performances by MD Creative Academy.

Meanwhile, the Pride flag will be flown above St Helens Town Hall throughout the day, and on the evening the Steve Prescott Bridge will be lit in the rainbow colours, widely known as a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community.

Councillor Jeanie Bell, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “Pride can't physically come to St Helens this year, I am pleased to see we will be celebrating anyway, even a pandemic won't stop the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.

“In our borough, our community won't tolerate hateful behaviour, homophobia, transphobia and bigoted ideals.

“We stand together as a community to say that #loveislove and St Helens is #NoPlaceForHate.”

St Helens Pride will get underway at 11am on Sunday and will be available to watch through What’s On St Helens’ Facebook and Twitter social media channels.

Why not show your support to St Helens Pride by downloading and colouring in a poster which can be displayed in your window? Download it here