Joy and other participants in the PGH DykeTrans March. Photo: Sue Carr 2014
Over the years, I have had the pleasure of participating in the Pittsburgh Dyke March, founded by Eli Kuti and friends in 2006. I attended the first march in 2006 and have participated many times since, including as a volunteer for several years.
These are my own posts looking back on the marches, not an official archive, and certainly not comprehensive. Still, it’s important to document our history. If you have any content you’d like to add, such as photos, please email me.
I spent my early years in Oakland, a place that I feel was especially important and is necessary to this day. The city did not provide legally mandated protections or properly coordinate paperwork. I knew some of the rules at the time and tried to help. But it was still a little scary marching down 5th Avenue with 7Up delivery trucks speeding toward us, especially parents pushing strollers. The city’s disastrous response to public actions has a long history.
The march moved into Bloomfield, taking on a more suburban feel as it meandered down Liberty Avenue, past the hospital and into the park. I remember thinking it was a long way to go, and it felt like a barrier to older queer women who probably didn’t need a ride and could teach us all a lot just by following a reasonable route.
I also remember two of what we would call “prominent” gay male leaders not honoring our request to march in the back with their allies. One said he was an honorary lesbian. Sigh. This was another example of the misogyny and privilege that still divides our community.
The march evolved into the Dyke Trans March in 2012, then the Dyke Trans Bi March, and current organizers are going back to a basic Dyke March with a strong feeling that anyone who wants to take part can do so – maybe even those two gay white guys will show up!
If you are wondering, will I be welcomed to the Lesbian March? Is this the place for me? Yes, you are welcomed!!! 
We are reclaiming the word DYKE.
Lesbian, transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, agender-inclusive lesbian, …agender-inclusive lesbian, agender-inclusive lesbian, agender-inclusive lesbian, agender-inclusive lesbian, agender-inclusive lesbian, agender-inclusive lesbian, agender-inclusive lesbian, agender-inclusive lesbian, agender
2015 was the last march I attended. I don’t know if I’ll attend again, just based on the length of the march and the impression that it was for young people. I’m not 36 anymore. I think the most glaring oversight has always been not finding a way to reach out to older lesbians from the 70s, 80s, and 90s and incorporate their revolutionary and extraordinary work that got us all to this point. Ageism is a devastating, self-consuming reality, simply because LGBTQ people are living longer than ever before. Ageism is not the same as ableism.
I also didn’t like coming back to Bloomfield so often — Pittsburgh is a big city with a lot of neighborhoods to redevelop. It remains to be seen where this year’s event will be held, but given the militarization of local law enforcement in recent days, it’s probably tactical.
Hopefully this year will be different, and I can’t wait to hear the results.
I want to say that Eli is one of the best people I know. He starts this every year, navigates through a variety of expectations, and shows up consistently. I miss seeing them in Pittsburgh. We first met at The Quiet Storm, where we had a powerful presentation on lesbian identity. I have always admired how Eli balances community safety with public safety.
This is primarily my history of the Dyke March. To grasp the full force, charm and momentum of the Dyke community, a proper history is needed. Mine turned out to be a little tougher than I expected, as I have many fond memories. I’ll have to think about that some more.
The Pittsburgh Dyke March started in 2006 and continued until 2016. I’m not sure of the exact number of years, so I think this year it was March 14th. Please let me know if this information is incorrect.
2006 – Pittsburgh’s first Lesbian March: Correspondents call it a huge success (#1)
2007 – Dyke March – Pittsburgh Style (2nd place)
2007 – McIntyre and I will be talking about the Dyke March this afternoon (2nd)
2008 – Dyke March Update (Part 3)
2008 – Dyke March Pittsburgh DIY (3rd place)
2009 – Pittsburgh Lesbian March returns! (4th time)
2009 – Dyke March 2009 (4 days)
2010 – Pittsburgh Dyke March 2010: 5th Year (5th Time)
2010 – Pgh Dyke March 2010 (5th)
2010 – Dyke March (5th)
2010 – Dyke March 2010 – Update (5th)
2011 – Pittsburgh’s 6th Annual Lesbian March (6th)
2012 – Pittsburgh Dyke and Trans March 2012 (7th)
2013 – Dates Announced: Pittsburgh Dyke and Trance March 2013 (8th)
2013 – Pittsburgh Dyke and Trans March (8th)
2014 – Joy KMT speech at the 2014 Pittsburgh Dyke & Trans March (9th)
2014 – Photos from the 2014 Pittsburgh Dyke & Trans March (9th)
2014 – 4 Ways to Support the Pgh Dyke and Trans March (9th)
2014 – Pittsburgh Dyke & Trans March takes place Saturday, June 21 in Bloomfield (9th)
2014 – Why the Pittsburgh Dyke & Trans March Needs to Survive (9th)
2014 – The One Time at the Dyke March (9th)
2014 – Meet & Greet (9th) Photos and other photos
2014 – God Hates Jaguars (9th place)
2014 – LaToya Johnson-Rainey is an ally to the transgender community (donates 1 tonne of bottled water)
2015 – Dyke Trans March (10th)* (link to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette where workers are on strike)
2015 – City Paper reports on Dyke March plans (10th)
2016 – Dyke Trans March (11th)
2017 – Unclear if demonstration took place
2018 – Dyke Trans March (12th)
2019 – Dyke Trans March (13th)
2020 – No March
2021 – No March
2022 – No March
2023 – No March
2024 – The Dyke March is scheduled for June 8th (14th)!
like this:
Like Loading…
