Check it out. This Saturday brings the opportunity to participate event that I find to be incredibly important. It might not appear to be your sort of thing, but hear me out.
I’m not a marcher. I’m a Pisces, for goodness. I’m a live-and-let-live kind of girl. But I’ve found lesbians to be left out of and underrepresented in the queer conversation at large. In the past few years, though, Pittsburgh has been changing, and it has been largely thanks to the grassroots efforts of individual women who have envisioned more for themselves, for their families, and for their community.
We have more to enjoy at Pride this year than ever before, and we have the Delta Foundation to thank for that. Join them and the entirety of Pittsburgh’s LGBT community in Sunday’s Pride March and check out this year’s extensive offerings. But Pride is a small part of the story. Women-focused events have been popping up all over the place. So in the spirit of visibility and pride, I am all in favor of the Pittsburgh Dyke March.
Some rhetoric of late has portrayed the Pittsburgh Dyke March as only representative of a small segment of the community. There’s been some drama, sure, but it shows the conversation is intensifying. I find unity within the lesbian community to be an area of infinite opportunity as we move forward. But in my optimism, I see this year’s conflict as a sign of healthy growing pains. As more diverse voices and viewpoints are represented, and there’s bound to be some butting of heads. The thing about an event like this is that it will evolve to represent those who show up to make it what it is. While you may not identify with those who started the Dyke March or even their mission, you will almost certainly find common ground with them in some aspect of their vision.
As women who love women, we represent every social group and lifestyle under the sun in our daily lives. Our sexual orientation is tiny facet of each of our complex identities. But the Dyke March gives us the opportunity, for one day, to band together in solidarity and to represent Pittsburgh as a great place to live, work, and love as a lesbian. Before we become a beacon to the world, we’ll have to be a beacon within our own community.
- Come to the Dyke March to represent your gratitude to those doing the legwork to create new events, resources, venues, and lifestyle options for queer women.
- Come to the Dyke March to represent your pride at being part of a flourishing lesbian community.
- Come to the Dyke March to represent your interest in that community.
- Come to the Dyke March to represent your open-minded attitude toward diverse lifestyles.
- Come to the Dyke March to represent your support of businesses that have opened their doors to the lesbian community and to encourage more to follow suit.
- Come to the Dyke March to represent your refusal to be treated as a second-class citizen.
- Come to the Dyke March to represent your humanity to the community at large.
The Dyke March begins at Mellon Square Park and will be preceded by a meet-and-greet at 2 pm. Keynote speaker Betty Hill of the Persad Center will address participants at 2:40, and Colelea will kick off the march at 2:55. If you need more persuading, check out Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents’ post about last year’s march. Or view photos of the first ever Pittsburgh Dyke March just three years ago.
And then there’s a bangin’ party, and you’ll only have to pay the regular $4 cover. Pink Party Productions is hosting the official after party at Weezie’s, and they’ve arranged quite the lineup. Slam poets Colelea, Bekezela, and Ya’ Lioness will be performing, and there will be live music by Sonji, Smells Like Gina, and Joey Murphy. All this is followed by a dance party. Performances begin at 7 pm.
3rd Annual Pittsburgh Dyke March
When: June 21st – 2 pm/March at 3 pm
where: Mellon Square Park Downtown
Who: All Ages
How Much: Free
Trans-Family Friendly
Accessibility Accommodations Available
Dyke March After Party
When: Saturday, June 21st – 7 pm
Where: Weezie’s/Donny’s – 1226 Herron Ave
Who: 21+
How Much: $4
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