| by Shakeera Baker

Long Beach Celebrate its 2nd Annual Dyke March

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The Annual Rally and Dyke March presents author and activist Jeanne Cordova, who will inspire the crowd to march for the rights of women-related issues

On the evening of May 16th 2014, Long Beach, California, will celebrate its 2nd Annual Rally and Dyke March. Issues such as disparities in health care and equal pay and opportunities are some of the highlights for which women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, and transgender will address during the rally and March. The goal of a Dyke March is to increase lesbian visibility, but it has grown to be more inclusive of all women regardless of labels, including bisexual and transgender women. 

As the 7th largest city in California and the 36th largest city in the country, the community members of Long Beach decided that it was time for them to host a Dyke March of their own. Long Beach, California is known for having the largest LGBT community as well as, for hosting amazing LGBT Pride Festivals.

This year, author and activist Jeanne Cordova will be the keynote speaker, and will inspire the crowd at the rally that precedes the March. Second District Council member Suja Lowenthal will welcome the women in attendance to her district, and local leaders such as Judi Doyle and Vanessa Romain, along with many others will also be speaking at the rally.

Using the term “dyke” is a way to take back the slur that was used to hurt women in the past – thus taking back the pain, similar to the way that other minority groups have “taken back” labels that were originally meant to be derogatory slurs.

The earliest documented Dyke March in the United States was held in Washington, D.C., on April 24th, 1993, coinciding with the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. Since that time, many major cities have hosted annual Dyke Marches, including: New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, and Toronto, Canada.  The first Dyke March in Long Beach took place in 2013, due to a local non-profit called Artful Thinking Organization (ATO), lead by Marriage Equality activist Robin Tyler, with over 400 attendees.

The Rally will begin at 6:30 PM at Bixby Park on Friday, May 16th, 2014. After the March, the women in attendance will be welcomed to celebrate at Ambrosia Café for a no-cover after party. The party will include songwriter and acclaimed drummer Michelle Mangione, who will take the stage from 8-10PM.

Sponsors play a huge role in allowing events to occur; the major sponsors for the 2nd Annual Rally and Dyke March include Budweiser, Hot Stuff, Ambrosia, The LN, Hot Java and Lola’s.

 

www.cafeambrosialongbeach.com    www.facebook.com/LongBeachDykeMarch

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