Featuring X Factor’s Marcus Collins and Amelia Lily, Drag Race queen Cheryl Hole and 90s legends S Club, the celeb-studded show will raise vital funds for Liverpool Pride Foundation
BY MARTINE HESS
X Factor star Marcus Collins is set to perform at the UK’s first major LGBTQI event since lockdown, in support of charity work combating the toll the pandemic has taken on people’s mental health.
Throughout the pandemic, the LGBTQI helpline Switchboard has recorded 57% more calls about isolation and 25% more calls about suicidal thoughts. The helpline also revealed that despite the easing of restrictions, the demand is continuing to rise.
The celebratory LGBTQI show is being held in collaboration with the Liverpool City Region Pride Foundation, which has experienced financial setbacks following the cancellation of the Liverpool Pride parade in 2020 and 2021.
In support of Liverpool Pride Foundation’s work to aid LGBTQI people struggling with mental health problems, the charity will receive 10% of the proceeds of all ticket sales. Co-founder of The Knowsley Social, Danny Thompson, said the event will be “a huge party” and hopes the donation will help the charity “carry on with their amazing, and clearly much-needed, work”.
Marcus Collins, the runner-up on X Factor in 2011, has agreed to perform at the event and promised that, “People coming are in for a treat”.
On June 5, in front of 1,000 party-goers, Collins will be joined by fellow X Factor contestant Amelia Lily, 90s pop sensation S Club, and Ru Paul Drag Race star Cheryl Hole.
The event will take place at The Knowsley Social in Merseyside and organisers said it will be “a celebration of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer life which will promote awareness with top class entertainment alongside LCR Pride”.
“We’re really proud to give the LGBT+ community a proper chance to come together – in a safe and socially-distanced way – for the first time in 14 months to celebrate after what has been a really difficult time,” said Thompson.
Tickets are on sale now: theknowsleysocial.co.uk/event/the-lgbt-social
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