The Council has commissioned a review of the Gay Village to understand what the area means to residents, community members, visitors and businesses – amongst others – to inform how it can be protected and enhanced for the future. 

This consultation comes after the Friends of Manchesters Gay Village and Piccadilly Labour Councillors lobbied for the consultation and met with the Leader of the Council in 2018. 

Cllr Jon-Connor Lyons said “We must ensure everyone engages with this consultation, it is so vital and important we have a vision for the neighbourhood which provides so much to so many LGBTQ+ people and allies in Manchester and beyond. This vision must be painted by the community, by local residents, by businesses, by the people it serves day-in and day-out. The review will be conducted by Hatch, a Manchester-based socio-economic consultancy agency in order to ensure people can truly speak truth to power and have those important honest conversations we need to have about the Gay Village.”

Cllr Richard Leese, the Leader of the Council said “The historical importance of the Gay Village for the city’s LGBTQ+ community cannot be underestimated. The area is a beacon for tolerance across the UK, and its reputation internationally renowned. There is no question that the heritage of the neighbourhood – and its future – must be protected. 

“We promised that we would undertake this review and it’s important that we do given the significance of the Gay Village to a huge amount of people. To be able to act as guardians, we need to speak to the people at the heart of the community, and listen to their views. 

Please fill in the survey here and make your voice heard as we make our Gay Village even better!