NEW street signs are up in Liverpool’s Stanley Street Quarter to show that it is the city’s officially recognised gay village.
It is the UK’s first city to recognise its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) scene in this way.
Signs, which incorporate a rainbow arch to recognise the LGBT community, are up on Stanley Street, Cumberland Street, Temple Lane, Eberle Street and Temple Street. The rainbow motif is a symbol of
LGBT pride and LGBT social movements that has been in use since the 1970s. The colours reflect the diversity of the LGBT community, and the rainbow is often used as a symbol of gay pride in LGBT
rights marches.
The first sign was unveiled at 2 pm on 11 November 2011 outside the Lisbon pub on Stanley Street by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Sharon Sullivan, in a ceremony attended by representatives of
the LGBT communities, local businesses and residents.
Adoption of the new signage followed a wide-ranging consultation involving the LGBT community, residents, business owners, the City Council and its partners. It supports the city’s efforts to tap
into the potential economic benefits of one of the most diverse quarters in the city centre.
The new signs are one of the first initiatives following the endorsement in August by the City Council’s cabinet of a report by Feria Urbanism to look at developing a vision and identity for the
Stanley Street area.
The report recommended that the City Council and other public and private sector organisations support the identity of Stanley Street as the centre of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
(LGBT) scene to enhance and promote both the area and the city as a whole and there should be official recognition of the quarter as Liverpool’s “gay village”.
Councillor Nick Small, city council cabinet member for employment and skills, said: “We need to start unleashing the enormous economic potential of the Stanley Street quarter and as one of the
first moves we have to show that this is our gay village. The new signs clearly show that we are recognising where the LGBT scene is based in the city and that it is a very important part of our
city life.“
Candice Fonseca, proprietor of Delifonseca, said: “As a local business, we are delighted with the new signage which is the first tangible mark of real change to come. By showing visitors to our
city where and what the Stanley Street Quarter is, businesses like ours will be able to benefit.”
Adam Simpson from the Liverpool LGB&T said: "The Liverpool LGB&T Network are proud to see such a visible indication of the joint work between the community, business and Liverpool City
Council. We will continue to work together with the City Council to develop the Stanley Street Quarter into a first rate destination for residents and visitors."
Pictured at the launch are Mersey Marauders Football Club members Tommy Shaw and Brian Davis, together with Stephen Twigg MP, Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Sharon Sullivan, Project Manager Paul
Amann, Marie and Debbie Causer and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Councillor Steve Munby.
