Liverpool aims to revitalize its gay quarter

Feb. 22 2014

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Is Liverpool, home of soccer and the Beatles, seeking its economic salvation in "pink money"?

While the English city officially organized its first Pride March last year, it is now planning to revitalize its gay district. According to the Daily Post, Liverpool City Council recently called in a consultancy firm to enhance its "gay village", located around Stanley Street, and turn it into a magnet.

"We've made a lot of progress in recent years and are increasingly seen as a gay-friendly city," said a city representative, referring to the many gay establishments that have sprung up around Stanley Street since the early 2000s.

"The success of last year's gay pride was proof of this evolution and we now need to look at how we can develop and promote our gay district," he added. "In times of austerity, this presents a real challenge, but if we can create a district that is vibrant, warm and unifying for the gay community, it can contribute to the economic dynamism of the city center."

According to the BBC, Liverpool City Council has already spent the princely sum of £12,000 in conjunction with the consultancy firm to determine how the premises and security of its gay quarter can be improved.in addition to the economic benefits, Liverpool also wants to put behind it an image tarnished by some particularly high-profile homophobic attacks in recent years.

Ultimately, Liverpool aims to become one of England's most gay-friendly cities and a destination of choice for gay tourists from all over the world, as London, Brighton and Manchester already are. An ambitious gamble.