Coronation Street legend's message to Liverpool ahead of weekend celebrations
The actress was one of the many celebrities to get involved
What's OnPaul McAuley Community reporter17:26, 26 Jul 2024
A Coronation Street star has sent a special message to the city ahead of Pride in Liverpool. Actress and activist Julie Hesmondhalgh, best known for her time on the Cobbles as transgender character Hayley Cropper, had a few words to share with all those celebrating come Saturday, July 27.
The 54-year-old is amongst those who have taken part in a new initiative around the city which sees the LGBTQ+ community and its allies share a video message explaining their favourite Pride song and why.
This year’s contributors include Coronation Street’s Anthony Crank, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Danny Beard and comedian Jason Manford. Julie said her favourite anthem is Small Town Boy by Bronski Beat from the album Age of Consent.
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She added: “Being a teenager in the mid to late 80s was a real-time of awakening for all of us. It was the height of the HIV and AIDs crisis, it was the time when the government had introduced Section 28, the LGBTQ+ community were standing together and many of us were standing in solidarity, going on demonstrations and marches.
“Stonewall was set up by Ian McKellan, Michael Cashman, Pam St Clement and others, and it was a time of coming out and film stars, pop stars, musicians and saying 'we're here, we're queer, and we're not going anywhere and we have the right to live and love as we were born to live and love'.
“This album was very much the soundtrack of this period; I used to listen to it endlessly in my friend Fraser's bedroom feeling that we could take on the government and take on the world thanks to Jimmy Somerville and Bronski Beat."
Those out for the Pride festivities can become involved in the initiative either through the official Pride Classical website or can visiting St John’s Shopping Centre to record their message live. The videos will be showcased across LCR Pride Foundation’s social channels over the weekend.
Also getting involved was LGBTQ+ ally Dame Joanna Lumely, from Absolutely Fabulous. She said: “My all-time favourite Pride song is I Am What I Am by Gloria Gaynor. I just think it’s enchanting because it’s what I believe about everybody, we are just people, all of us across the world, and I love people being proud in exactly what they are.”
Halewood's Danny Beard, who is performing at Pride Classical, added: "My Pride anthem is It's a Sin by the Pet Shop Boys because I first performed it at Manchester Pride and it went off. I feel like it is a homage to the girls, the gays, and the theys that went before us and allowed people like me to do what I do at my age."
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