Once again Mike, Marie, Michael’s family, friends and Trustees will be at St George’s Hall to help lead PRIDE 2016 on Sat 30th July – please say hi and join us as and help his mum, dad, family and friends make sure Michael’s name is never forgotten
Once again the Michael Causer Foundation is proud to be attending the Liverpool Pride Festival – this year’s being our city’s 7th annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
This year Liverpool Pride Festival will take a more prominent and visual position in the city, taking over St George’s Quarter, including St George’s Hall, The Plateau, William Brown Street and St John’s Gardens. The 2016 event promises to be one of the most visual and flamboyant Pride events ever created.
The theme for Liverpool Pride Festival 2016 is Liverpool Icons, chosen to commemorate the multitude of local legends that hail from this city region.
Michael Causer, a trainee hairdresser from Whiston, in Merseyside, had his whole life ahead of him and was a kind and popular 18-year-old, whose friends described him as “a little sweetheart”. He was adored by his family. He was proud to be gay.
But that life was taken when he was brutally attacked as he slept at house party in Liverpool in July 2008.
“We loved Michael for being the person that he was, but we know other young LGBT people don’t always have that.”
A few days later, on August 2, 2008, Michael died in hospital following brain surgery. His funeral took place a week before his nineteenth birthday.
The Michael Causer Foundation was set up by his parents, Marie and Mike, and Merseyside’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. Their aim, to provide education, motivation and accommodation for young LGBT people like their son.
“We didn’t just want a plaque on a wall,” says Marie. “We loved Michael for being the person that he was, but we know other young LGBT people don’t always have that.”
In his mum and dad’s, his family’s and this region’s hearts he has become a truly iconic figure whose legacy is our joint efforts to combat hate crime, educate against bigotry and motivate change not just locally but also nationally and internationally.
Michael Causer is a Liverpool Icon – but so are every one of his wonderful family and all those amongst us that stand up for justice and equality.
For the 2016 event, the majestic backdrop St George’s Quarter will be transformed into a colourful festival site bursting with activities over the two days. There will be live music and entertainment on 2 fully programmed stages, food and drink zones, community and education zones, a market place, family activities and speakers. This year it’s not just all about the Pride Weekend itself, there are loads of exciting events planned leading up to the Liverpool Pride Festival 2016 celebration.
Once again Mike and Marie, Michael’s family and friends and our Trustees will be at St George’s Hall to help lead the PRIDE 2016 march on Saturday 30th July – please say hi and join us as one of Michael’s Mates and help his mum, dad, family and friends make sure Michael’s name is never forgotten.