Ahoy Matey! Prepare to way anchor and set sail, Liverpool Pride, the UK’s biggest FREE Pride event outside of Londonis going nautical for its third annual celebration of all things LGBT, to be held onSat 4 August.

Liverpool Pride 2012 will take place at Liverpool’s iconic pier-head and throughout the Stanley Street Gay Quarter. In addition to this, there will be a weekend ofcultural events taking place at some of Liverpool’s most influential arts and cultural establishments.

Liverpool Pride came about following the launch of the LGB&T Network, at which the public voted for a Pride festival to engage, empower and involve the LGB&T communities within the city. This was fully endorsed by Liverpool City Council in January 2009. Following a number of high profile attacks in the city, the event was established in 2010 and now takes place each year to coincide with the anniversary of murdered gay teenager Michael Causer.

In just two years, Liverpool Pride has established itself as one of the major highlights in the city and the wider LGBT community’s summer calendar. Bursting onto the scene in 2010, the inaugural Liverpool Pride festival attracted over 20,000 people, which was doubled to over 44,000 in 2011.For 2012 Festival organisers are promising the best event yet, a festival which Liverpool’s LGBT community is proud of, attracting people from across the country to experience the diverse culture of one of Europe’s most exciting cities.

The festival’s ‘Nautical but Nice’ theme, chosen in a ballot by 700 members of the local LGBT community, gives a nod to the city’s commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, whilst at the same time, celebrating the city’s rich maritime history and taking advantage of the main festival site, which sits on the banks of the River Mersey.

Organisers have also announced that applications for this year’s March are open. The full route will be announced shortly. However it will begin atWilliam Brown Street at 12pm, with participants asked to gather from 11am. The route will end in front of the main stage at the Pier Head, where the afternoon’s rally and entertainment will begin.

The undoubted highlight of the festival, the Pride March gives the LGBT community, their friends and their families the chance to parade through Liverpool’s streets in a blaze of colour, music and, this year, seamen (and women), whilst raising awareness of homophobia in the local area. Last year, over 3,500 people took part in the Liverpool Pride March including gay bars, shops, restaurants, political organisations, Trade Unions, Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in addition to many individuals and their nearest and dearest. 6000people turned out to cheer on marchers in 2011, a number which is also expected to grow in 2012. Organisers are expecting an even larger crowd to takepart this year and so are advising anyone who wants to take part to apply early.

The march is completely free to join and Individuals, groups and organisations are invited to take part by registering online atwww.liverpoolpride.co.uk/march before 31st July.

Marchers are encouraged to dress up in line with the theme, although this is not obligatory, so start thinking about costumes and entries now! Think outside the box and be as creative as possible bearing in mind the diversity of the Sea faring theme. From Pirates of the Caribbean to Captain Pugwash, Jack and Rose aboard the Titanic to The Queen’s Jubilee Pageant, Captain Morgan’s to Old Navy, Stowaways, Ships Boys and Cabin Girls, mermaids and sea creatures, Miss Molly Malone and hercockles and muscles, Elizabeth Swann, swashbuckling heroines of the sea, certain Disney villains, ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and of course ferries across the Mersey.

Think about the uniforms & fashions, the music, shanties and songs, films, celebrities, television shows and any events, which may take place on water. There is a wealth of ideas to choose from, and a number of different ways in which to celebrate this fantastic theme!

Zoran Blackie, Chair of Liverpool Pridesaid“I’m really pleased about the Nautical but Nice theme for this year, with the Titanic centenary and our plans to have the main stage at the Pier Head, one of the best known waterfronts in the world. I can’t wait to see what creative ideas our supporters and pride-goers are going to come up with. This is whatPride is all about for me – showing the world that we’re proud of who we are and where we are, that the LGBT community is part of what makes Liverpool great”

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said: “The Liverpool Pride festival is a huge success and a fantastic celebration of the incredible diversity that exists in the city. It shows that Liverpool is a welcoming and diverse place to visit, and contributes to the economic success of the city by encouraging people to come and spend money which boosts trade and sustains jobs.”

Paddy Jones, event officer for Gay Quarter Pride and Liverpool Pride Trustee said:“I’m delighted to have joined the Liverpool Pride team and be working together with the community and venues in Stanley Street, Cumberland Street and Eberle Street to make this our city’s biggest and best Pride so far!”

Make sure you check out liverpoolpride.co.uk, @PrideLiverpool on Twitter and search Liverpool Pride on Facebook to have your say and for all of the latest pride news.

Donna Summer, whom millions of fans revered as "the Queen of Disco," has died at the age of 63 in Florida after a battle with cancer, the Associated Press confirmed with the singer's family Thursday morning.Summer performing in October 2011

The news comes as a surprise to those who were not aware that she was ill. The legendary superstar was publicly active as recently as last June, when she appeared as a guest panelist on Bravo's music reality show Platinum Hit.

However, a report by TMZ, which initially broke the story, notes that those close to the singer--known for mega-hits including "Last Dance" and "Bad Girls"--revealed she had been trying to hide how sick she was. A source said that Summer did not seem to be in that bad of shape two weeks ago.

She is survived by her adult daughters Mimi (by her first husband, actor Helmuth Sommer), Brooklyn and Amanda (by second husband Bruce Sudano).

In addition to her status as a pioneer in the dance music genre, Summer was a five-time Grammy Award winner, the first artist ever to score three back-to-back No. 1 double albums, and was nominated--but not chosen--for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. She is credited with influencing stars ranging from Madonna and Michael Jackson, to Beyonce and Rihanna. Her last album, Crayons, was released in 2008.

Some Listeners comments:

Lee Butler: 
"So sad. I remember you supporting her last album and playing the remixes. Gutted, Donna Summer's voice filled a hall or club like no other vocalist I have ever  heard. So glad I got to see her live in 1996 and 1999."
Di Mitchell:
"So sad Gone to soon .."
Kelly Wilde:
"I saw Donna summer several years ago at GAY and she opened her show with McArthur's Park. She sounded better live than even on the record (an absolute classic) She will be sadly missed ! 

John and Sally Bercow will be joining hundreds of Stonewall supporters on the ninth annual Brighton Equality Walk on Bank Holiday Sunday 6 May. The 10k Walk raises funds for Stonewall’s Education for All programme, which helps schools tackle homophobia so they’re safe and supportive for children from all families.

The Bercows have a long history of supporting gay equality and Stonewall. Sally Bercow completed a parachute jump for the charity in October 2010, raising nearly £2,000 for Stonewall’s work in schools. The couple also attended Stonewall’s Equality Dinner on 29 March this year, which raised nearly £400,000 for anti-homophobia work. John and Sally have set up a JustGiving page for people who wish to support them, athttps://www.justgiving.com/JohnSallyBercow.

John and Sally will join celebrity hosts Jane Hazlegrove (Casualty) and Harry Derbidge (TOWIE) at the Equality Walk’s starting line. Over 500 Walkers took part in 2011, raising over £50,000. Hundreds of people have already registered for this year’s event, which is supported by American Express.

Stonewall Deputy Chief Executive Laura Doughty said: ‘We’re delighted that John and Sally will be joining us for this year’s Brighton Equality Walk. It’s is an incredibly important event for Stonewall and our supporters, helping raise money that really does make life much better for gay young people.’

To find out more and register for the Brighton Equality Walk call 020 7593 1875 or go to www.equalitywalk.org.uk.