Drag Mansion at the 2011 Dyke March. Photo by Alley Hector.
The constant refrain of “Where is the Dyke March” and “Is it happening?” are no less present this year BUT it IS happening. It’s at the usual gather time of 6PM It’s at a brand new crazy early time of 1pm at the Salmon Street Fountain (I THINK). But anyway this “parade of exes” has it’s own pre-party sort of hilarity that should not be missed.
Plus it is the 45th anniversary of Stonewall and here’s some local lore as well:
Long long ago and far away in 1994, several Portland Lesbian Avengers- lezzies, bulldykes, femmes, and transfolk got together to replicate an event that happened at the March on Washington (DC) 1993- the Dyke March.
It’s been 20 years. And a lot of things have changed. We’re shedding labels, and identifying in new and different ways, but I still believe that Dyke March is hugely important to queer and dyke visibility.
FREE, 1pm at the [NOTE TIME CHANGE: See letter posted below]
NORTH PARK BLOCKS
Saturday June 14th
PS While I understand the logistics of the time change I’m less than thrilled. We already have a hard enough time getting our Dyke March in order in this town, people are always confused, lost and wondering if it is happening. It’s always been at 6pm for many years and it feels like we’re getting pushed around. Plus I feel like it’ll be even harder to get people to be up and out in time for 11am. Bad bad decisions all around folks…
FWD::
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! IMPORTANT!!
Due to a city request we had to change the time of Dyke March to 1:00 pm Saturday the 14th at the NORTH PARK BLOCKS. I wrote a letter below to explain the change. PLEASE repost and disseminate far and wide.
Dear Portland,
As you know we are a big community chock full of L’s and G’s and B’s and T’s and Q’s. Because of the diversity of our community we have not just one big Pride Parade but in past years have also had the Dyke March, this year celebrating its 20th anniversary! Pride Northwest, in our commitment to ensuring a more inclusive Pride celebration, is supporting a Trans Pride March as part of Pride weekend. Being a mostly cisgendered bunch, we didn’t feel qualified to put it together.
So this year, thankfully, we had a committee of people come to us to make that happen. We have been so excited to have the Dyke March and the Trans March a reality. Our plan has been to have the Dyke March at the original time at 6:30 pm and the Trans March at 11:30 am to focus on Trans visibility and support.
Well, about 36 hours ago, we received some bad news from the city. Because of the cost of having two separate marches (so far apart in time) they needed us to move the marches closer together so that they weren’t paying the city employees massive overtime for two marches (and/or billing us for it). The Dyke March and the Trans Pride March got together and over processed as we are wont to do, to come up with a solution that would both honor the beginning of a Trans Pride March, and the history (herstory?) of the Dyke March.
So after much conversation we have decided to keep the marches separate, but to move the Dyke March to earlier in the day, gathering at the North Park blocks at 1:00pm and kicking off at 1:30pm.
This will solve a lot of things. One, people have been complaining that the Dyke March is held at the same time as happy fun times, like Inferno. Now you’ll be able to go and have all of the glorious hours dancing with your peeps. Two, Trans Pride March and Dyke March can use the same accessibility vehicles for both marches, cutting down on costs and logistics for both marches. Three, those that want to march in both can double back and march in both at the same time, saving your day. Four, Dyke March is ending at the Waterfront so you can hang out and enjoy our awesome entertainment!
I am very excited that this Trans Pride March and the 20th anniversary of the Dyke March coincides with the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Some of you may not know, but trans people like Sylvia Rivera and Storme Delarverie were some of the first to fight back against police when they raided the Stonewall Bar igniting the modern LGBT civil rights movement. I am grateful that we get to honor them, and honor our entire community.
To sum up. Dyke March is kicking off at 1:30, gather at 1:00 pm at the North Park Blocks and ending at the waterfront. This is only for this year, unless it’s awesome and everyone loves it.
Now please do me a solid and pass this letter on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Myspace (if you live in 2006).
We love you and can’t wait to have a killer 2014 Portland Pride!!
Sincerely,
Belinda Carroll