Name: Drag Disco
Start: 2024-04-17
End: 2024-04-17
Location: The Masquerade

<img class="alignnone wp-image-104815 size-full" src="https://static.travelgay.com/media/68040/liverpool-city-guide-e1532957921423.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><h2>Liverpool</h2>One of the largest cities in the North of England. Liverpool is the UK's 9th largest city and is home to around 500,000 people. It is at the heart of Merseyside, the UK's 5th largest metropolitan area and is home to around 2 million people.Liverpool did not achieve city status until 1880, however the Industrial Revolution and the growth of its port made it a significant location prior to that. It was the departure point of many emigrants from the British Isles who were starting a new life in the Americas. It was the second most bombed city in the UK during World War 2.Today, Liverpool is a financial, cultural and academic centre. It is best known as the hometown of The Beatles, and you can still see the marks of the Fab Four in the city today, with bus tours and commemorative plaques throughout the city. It has a buzzing nightlife and it's popular gay village was the first in the UK.&nbsp;<h2>Gay Rights in the UK</h2>For information about gay rights in United Kingdom, please check out our <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/essential-gay-london/">Gay London City Guide page</a>.&nbsp;<h2>Gay Scene</h2>Despite its proximity to Manchester and its internationally recognised gay scene, Liverpool's gay scene more than holds up to Manchester's. Its gay village is the oldest in the country and is the only one officially recognised and supported by a city council. Liverpool's strong socialist tradition makes it a very welcoming city.In and around the Stanley Street gay quarter you will find a good selection of <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/liverpool-gay-bars/">bars</a> and <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/liverpool-gay-dance-clubs/">dance clubs</a>, and further afield there are <a href="https://www.travelgay.com/liverpool-gay-saunas/">saunas</a>. The city hosts an extremely popular gay pride festival at the end of July/beginning of August. The Homotopia festival in November showcases a fascinating program of local and international queer art.&nbsp;<h2>Getting to Liverpool</h2>By planeLiverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)is 12 km south of the city. It is well served by budget airlines to destinations in Europe and North Africa by budget airlines where you can change at these hub airports. In the summer months there are more charter services available from Liverpool.From the airport you can take buses into the city centre. The Airlink 500 is an express service that takes you into the centre in around 30 minutes. A single journeys costs around £4 but note services stop 7 pm. The 86a service is a cheaper and longer service however it runs 24 hours so is a good way to get into the city centre at night.Hackney cabs can be caught outside the terminal building and and drivers need to be approved to work at the airport. The journey takes around half an hour and will cost between £20-30 in a taxi, traffic depending. Private taxis will pick you up from the car park. Car hire is available at the airport and can be arranged in advance.Manchester Airport (MAN) is relatively close to Liverpool and offers a wider range of services, including several long-haul flights. It is around an hours drive from Liverpool and there are direct train and coach links to Liverpool from the airport terminal.By trainLiverpool Lime Street is Liverpool's main rail hub and it is an impressive Victorian structure in the centre of the city. It is well-connected to destinations around England (you can get to London in 2 hours) however you will have to change connections if coming from Scotland or Wales.By boatThere are some ferry services from Dublin, Belfast and Douglas (Isle of Man) to Pier Head in the city centre. Journeys from Ireland take around 8 hours and please note that Northern Irish bank notes may not be accepted by taxi drivers or in some shops.&nbsp;<h2>Getting around Liverpool</h2>On footLiverpool city centre is relatively compact and is well signposted so getting around by foot is the best way to take in the stunning architecture. It can be quite a wet city so make sure you dress for the weather.By public transportLiverpool has a comprehensive transport operated by Merseytravel. There are regular and frequent bus services throughout the day (night buses are prefixed with an N). Tickets start in the region of £2-3 for a single and day tickets which can be bought from the driver (preferably with coins). Weekly passes can be bought from bus stations.Merseyrail operate the commuter trains which are quite handy if you're staying a bit out of the city centre (or going to do some adventuring). The Mersey Ferry is an attraction in itself and takes you from Liverpool to the Wirral. You can purchase a Saveway ticket for just over £5 which covers buses, trains and the ferry.By taxi Liverpool has a well maintained fleet of recognisable black hackney cabs. They can be hailed on the street but there are also many taxi ranks situated throughout the city. Private hire vehicles can only be ordered in advance and any soliciting you should be treated as suspect. Uber operates in Liverpool.&nbsp;<h2>Where to Stay in Liverpool?</h2>For a list of recommended hotels in Liverpool, please check out our <a href="https://www.travelgayhotels.com/Place/Liverpool.htm">recommended hotels in Liverpool page</a>.&nbsp;<h2>Things to See &amp; Do</h2>Tate Liverpool - the northern branch of one the UK's most prominent art institutions. Here, at the Albert Dock, you will see some of the best modern art for free. Previous works on display have included Tracey Emin's infamous unmade bed.Merseyside Maritime Museum - A fascinating museum which covers Liverpool's history as a port. It includes several museums in one including the Border Force national museum, the International Museum of Slavery and an exhibition on the Titanic. Be sure to check out the poignant "Hello Sailor!" exhibition about gay life on the open seas.Walker Art Gallery - situated on the only street in the UK that only has museums or libraries. The Walker Art Gallery hosts works by Degas and Banksy. Of note is its special exhibition dedicated to gay fashion designers.Bold Street - for hip boutiques and quirky cafes, make a beeline for Bold Street. To try the traditional stew Scouse which gave the locals their infamous nickname (scousers) be sure to head to Maggie May's and don't skip the pickled beetroot or red cabbage on the side!The Beatles Story - you'd be a fool to pass up an opportunity to find out more about the Fab Four in their city of origin. Here you will find a recreation of the original Cavern Club where the Beatles made their name.Everton and Liverpool FC - Liverpool has not one but two Premier League team in the city so why not take in the drama and atmosphere of a football match. The local derby match can provoke some mild disturbances so keep your wits about you but also accept it as part of the fun (to an extent).Peaky Blinders tour - although the award-winning show is set in Birmingham it is actually filmed in Liverpool. Here you can take in some of the iconic sights from the series.Matthew Street - here you will find a great collection of bars (not gay bars but welcoming) to get a true feeling for Liverpool's buzzing nightlife. You will also find a statue in commemoration of Liverpool's most famous daughter- the inimitable Cilla Black.&nbsp;<h2>When to Visit</h2>Liverpool has a temperate climate with relatively pleasant summers and mild winters. The weather here is very unpredictable so check forecasts and pack accordingly. Late spring and summer has the best weather however this is when tourist numbers are at there biggest but the city doesn't exactly get swarmed.There are a wide variety of festivals and events held in Liverpool throughout the year. Liverpool International Music Festival has a great programme of musical acts for very reasonable prices. June's Mersey River Festival sees historic tall ships descend on the city amongst other attractions. The Liverpool Biennial has an international reputation.&nbsp;<h2>Visa</h2>In recent years, the UK has tightened its immigration procedures and introduced the use of biometrics. Full details can be <a href="https://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/">found here</a>.Most visitors from Europe, and countries such as the USA, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore and Taiwan do not require a visa – check <a href="https://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/do-you-need-a-visa/">here to see if this applies to you.</a>Most other visitors from Asia, South Africa and South America need to obtain a visa before travelling to the UK. You will normally be required to attend an interview at your local UK Embassy.Entry is normally permitted for a period of 6 months, and you are free to travel anywhere in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A UK visa is not valid for travel to other European countries.&nbsp;<h2>Money</h2>The official currency of the United Kingdom is pound sterling (£, GBP), commonly known as the pound. Exchanging cash into British Pounds in the UK can be expensive. Most Asian travelers get a better rate by exchanging currency before travelling to the UK.Visa &amp; MasterCard and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere. American Express and Diners cards are widely accepted. The UK uses a ‘Chip and PIN’ system for all payments. If your card has a microchip, expect to be asked to enter your PIN number rather than sign. If you do not have a PIN, expect to be asked to show official photo ID.Contact-less debit and credit card payments are becoming more popular for smaller purchases in coffee shops, car parks, grocery stores and on public transport.Banks usually open between 09:30 and 16:00, although many in larger cities or major shopping areas will stay open a lot later.

Gay Liverpool · City Guide

Planning a trip to Liverpool? Then our gay Liverpool city guide page is for you.

IVF treatment is available for lesbian couples too.

The ability for same-sex couples to legally adopt a child.

On November 30, 2000 a bill was signed to make the ages of consent equitable, regardless of gender.  The law came into effect on August 1, 2001.  The age of consent for men who have sex with men was reduced from 18 to 16, on par with different sex individuals.

The difference between legal age of consent for homosexual sex and heterosexual sex.

A bill was signed to reduce the age of consent for men who have sex with men from 21 to 18.

The Sexual Offenses Act made sex between two men legal in 1967*, but it was only legal between consenting men who were 21 or older, whereas the age of consent for different sex couples was 16. 
 
*Sex between more than two men remained illegal until later.

Sexual activities between two or more men were illegal prior to 1967, and therefore, the age of consent was irrelevant; it was all illegal.

The 3-month deferral for MSM has been dropped in England, Wales and Scotland. Instead, donors of any gender will be asked about their recent sexual activity, and those who have only had one sexual partner within the last 3-months will be eligible to donate. 
Northern Ireland is due to follow suit with these changes in September 2021.

The ability for MSMs (men who have sex with men) to donate blood or tissue for organ transplants. A deferral period refers to a waiting time before a man can donate after having sex.

In 2017, the 3-month blood donation rule came into force at blood donation centres in Scotland in November, and in early 2018 in England.

Following an evidence-based review by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) the lifetime ban was reduced to a 1-year deferral period in England, Wales, and Scotland.

In reaction to the HIV/AIDS crisis, MSMs were banned from donating blood for life. 

Previous law repealed by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003.

Censorship or prohibition of discussing, promoting, or teaching LGBTQ+ topics in media, schools, and in the general public.

Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 stated that local authorities could not "intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". The law did not create a criminal offence, leaving staff to fear losing their jobs if they breached the rules. 

Legal gender recognition is possible in all four constituent countries of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) as per the Gender Recognition Act (2004, in effect 2005). Section 1 of the law states that "any person of either gender" who is aged at least 18 can make an application for "a gender recognition certificate" on the basis of— (a) living in the other gender, or (b) having changed gender under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom. These certificates are issued by a Gender Recognition Panel. 
The law includes the following requirements for obtaining such certificate: (1) a "gender dysphoria" diagnosis, proved through two reports (one by a registered medical practitioner or psychologist specialised in gender dysphoria, and another one made by a registered medical practitioner); (2) having lived in the “acquired gender” for two years before filing the application, proved through different means (such as a statutory declaration or documents where their gender identity is stated -i.e. pay slips, benefit documentation, bank statements, utility bills); (3) a statutory declaration showing intention "to continue to live in the acquired gender until death"; (4) spousal consent, if the applicant is married or in a civil partnership (partner must consent to the marriage or partnership continuing after the issue of the full gender recognition certificate).

Legal recognition of sex reassignment by permitting a change of legal gender on an individual's birth certificate.

According to ILGA, laws in force in United Kingdom do not regulate or restrict sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression change efforts (SOGIECE), regularly known as “conversion therapies”. 
 
Conversion therapy ban has been discussed for many years. Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to ban conversion therapy in July 2020 and this was reiterated in the 2021 Queen's Speech. In March 2022, the plans were dropped, only for a partial U-turn just hours later when the government announced that the ban would go ahead but not cover trans people. 
 
On January 17 2023, the government announced they'd pass a new law to include transgender people in the conversion therapy ban. 
 
Since 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has failed to comment on actually banning practices of Conversion therapy. He is known to be Anti-LGBTQ, and preaches "Save the kids"

Legal status of conducting sexual orientation changing therapy ("ex-gay" therapy)

LGBT discrimination in Great Britain is illegal, but Northern Ireland only offers limited anti-discrimination laws.

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Employment discrimination protections in the UK stem from several peices of legislation, which were combined into the wide-ranging Equality Act 2010. There are, however, exemptions for certain occupations (such as religious organisations).

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in employment, including hiring, promotion, termination, harassment, etc.

The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 repealed all criminal provisions regarding homosexuality; setting an equal age of consent for sexual activity between men.

Consensual sexual activity between individuals of the same sex.

**LEGAL, WITH RESTRICTIONS** 
The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 legalized sexual acts between two men who were 21 or older (Excluding men serving in the military), but it placed new restrictions on sex for men who have sex with men. The act prohibited sex in places where a third party was likely to be present.

The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 lowered the maximum penalty to life imprisonment. 
 
Subsequent laws, such as The Labouchere Amendment (Section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885) redefined the offence and allowed for other punishments, for example Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years hard labour in 1895, and in 1952 Alan Turing was chemically castrated. 
 
Female homosexuality and sexual acts were not addressed in the law, and therefore, they technically would have been legal, though the law often applied the law towards women.

Under the Buggery Act 1533, which recieved Royal Assent from King Henry VIII in 1534, homosexuality in what is now the United Kingdom was punishible by death. 
 
It was replaced in whole by the Offences Against the Person Act 1828, which carried the same punishment until repealed in 1861.

For Local Authorities they would be bound by Equality Act 2010 and have a duty under Public Sector Equality Duty. For private landlords would be bound by Equality Act 2010

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity when applying for housing or discrimination by landlords / property owners.

Same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland came into force on 13 January 2020.

Marriage and marriage recognition between two people of the same biological sex and/or gender identity.

Marriage equality in Northern Ireland was brought into line with the rest of the UK via the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.

Came into force as of March 29th, 2014 . Same-sex marriage is still unrecognized fully in some parts of the UK (such as Northern Ireland).

The legislation allowed religious organisations to opt in to marry same-sex couples should they wish to do so and protected religious organisations and their representatives from successful legal challenge if they did not wish to marry same-sex couples.

The Civil Partnership Act (2004). 
 
Under the Act, same-sex couples can register a civil partnership, which has almost the same legal effects, rights and obligations as marriage does for mixed-sex couples. For that reason, civil partnership is sometimes called ‘gay marriage’. However, legally, it is not marriage, but is a separate, segregated system

The Ministry of Defence were forced to change their stance on when the European Court of Human Rights ruled in September 1999 that the then current ban on gays in the military was unlawful.

The ability for homosexuals to serve in the military and be open about their sexuality.

The Sexual Offences Act of 1967 explicitly made serving in the military as an openly gay/bi man illegal.  Prior to this act, it was illegal for a man to have sex with another man entirely, and therefore, it was also illegal.

Same-sex sexual activity was illegal for men, and therefore, these individuals were not permitted in the military.

In 2021 the UK government said (in response to a petition) that legal recognition of non-binary gender identity would have "complex practical consequences for other areas of the law, service provision and public life", and said that they felt existing legislation allowing people to change their legal gender went far enough. Courts have, however, ruled that people with non-binary identities are protected from discrimination by the Equality Act. On 4 October 2023, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asserted his stance on gender identity in a speech Wednesday, stating it was “common sense” that “a man is a man and a woman is a woman”. 

Legal recognition of non-binary, genderqueer, or third gender identities.

United Kingdom

Liverpool Gay Sauna Guide

Chill-Out-Lounge-at-Splash-Sauna-Liverpool

リバプールゲイサウナ

Liverpool Gay Bar Guide

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リバプールのゲイバー

Liverpool Gay Dance Club Guide

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リバプールゲイダンスクラブ

Novotel-leeds-MAIn

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