Pansies launch city’s gay festival as memorial for homophobia victims

Oct 30 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

Artist Paul Harfleet, with police officers Jan McCann, hate crime co-ordinator, left, and Tracy O'Hara chair of the internal police support network for gay and lesbian staff

A SPECTACULAR floral display marked the start of the city’s gay festival.

Artist Paul Harfleet installed his internationally recognised Pansy Project in St John’s Gardens yesterday.

The flowers – which act as a memorial to the victims of homophobic violence – will remain in the gardens until the final day of the festival, when they will be given away to the public as a symbolic stand against hate crimes.

The Pansy Project is just one of more than 70 events that will take place as part of the expanded Homotopia festival this year.

It runs from November 1 to 19, and includes the National Theatre of Scotland making its Liverpool debut with the critically acclaimed Venus As A Boy at the Unity Theatre, and a new literature strand, exploring the best of gay writing.

Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool city council and deputy chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, said: “Homotopia is a fantastic example of a home-grown festival that is really beginning to show its full potential.”