Unlike the recent G20 protests in Toronto, the annual Vancouver Dyke March on Saturday (July 31) will be an event where “nobody should be hurt at all,” according to its organizer.
“I think the worst thing we’ve ever had is one time a kid fell in the playground and scuffed his knee,” Vancouver Dyke March president Sam Levy told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview. “And another time a girl got stung by a bee. Certainly nothing like any of the [G20] protests. It’s more like a Pride parade, in that it’s a gathering of people celebrating life, family, and those things. The big difference is we don’t have any motorized vehicles. So we are not a parade; we are a procession, I guess.”
Levy said the seventh annual march in Grandview-Woodland will be “celebratory” in nature and free of “big political statements”.
“It’s not typically filled with any type of political messaging other than the messaging that’s inherently political about being queer, lesbian, transgender, you know, dyke, and being a part of that community,” she explained. “Outside of that base-line statement about being a part of that community, it’s really not a political march; it’s much more of a celebration. It’s an event for women and their supporters and their families and their kids and their dogs.”
At noon on Saturday, the march will begin at its usual starting point, McSpadden Park, located at East 5th Avenue and Victoria Drive. From there, it will proceed along 5th Avenue to Commercial Drive, where it will head north.
Traditionally, the post-march music festival has taken place in Grandview Park, but this year it’s been moved to Victoria Park, just east of Commercial at Grant Street and Salsbury Drive. According to Levy, the location is notable because this is where the first march kicked off, in 2004.
Coalition of Progressive Electors councillor Ellen Woodsworth, who lives near Grandview Park, told the Straight she will be there this weekend. “I’ve been out since 1970, so I understand the importance of being supportive,” Woodsworth said by phone. “The important thing is the march is growing every year. I think the important thing is the LGBTQ community needs to be able to feel safe no matter which neighbourhood they live in.”
Acts performing at this year’s festival, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m., include Kim Kuzma, Janis Mullan’s Melissa Etheridge Tribute, and Cris Derksen.
For more information, see www.vancouverdykemarch.com/info.php
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Comments
My experience as a queer person of aboriginal decent and trans experience, is that my indentity is a political statement in itself. That until the community mobilized and fought VERY heard to get to the level of equality in Canada, we were much worse off.
We fought politicians, we have LGBT Canadians in political life and those who support various political organizations over many years to encourage them to fight for LGBT equality.
So this is just ridiculous - that dyke marches and similar evens like "east side pride", or "the pride parade" are not political.
Being anything but middle class, white and heterosexual is a challenge, and one that is excluded much in political spheres.
Especially at the so called "top" of Canadian life - political, financial and social.
Enough is enough.
Do LGBT people forget how we come to enjoy such equality?
I have learned that if we do not "exercise" our rights, we lose them. (they atrophy)
Here's to those LGBT Canadians who are political and still "fighting the good fight", on all levels within Canadian society.
I wonder to what degree this article reflects an angle chosen by the author rather than something volunteered by the organizer. I don't see why the question would even arise unless somebody was fishing for something.
All I can really add is... by relocating this year's march and completely sidestepping any engagement with issues around the redevelopment of Grandview Park and gentrification of Commercial Dr. more generally, the Dyke March organizers may as well join the ranks of the misnamed "Friends of Grandview" (http://defendgrandview.wordpress.com/).
As dykes, queers, and trans folks, we should be in solidarity across a broad base of struggles against oppressions that affect us all - especially those most marginalized in "our" communities. Rather than position ourselves as "good citizens" in opposition to "violent protesters", we should be in solidarity with the folks who organized against the G8/20 (many of whom are dykes, queers, and trans folks, working to make the connections between queer and trans issues and other struggles visible).
What's wrong with political statements and celebration together?
There's a difference between making events safe for everyone to be there and then ignoring the history and current forms of oppression that dykes face.
And I stand in solidarity with all those folks who were arrested at the G20 and so should this rally!
How quickly we forget our own history.
Sad.
It just seems like so many queers and trans leaders are operating out of fear. Fear of standing out too much. Fear of being too political. Fear of disapproval from the main stream.
The roots of having a March in the first place IS in itself political. Taking to the streets IS political. Taking up space and being visible IS political. Although, people forget that because of what a huge corporate spectacle PRIDE has become. I mean the word PRIDE is trade marked for god sakes... it's such a shame.
Instead of operating out of fear and your own desire to be right, take a brief second to reflect on the history of our communities. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the most marginalized folks in the community. Examine your defensive attitude and your need to be right, your need to be superior, your need to be the good, well behaved, easy-going dyke/fag/bi/trans person, well liked by the world of straight politicians and government.
I know people can understand if the have the desire too.
This weekend I will be doing pretty much the same thing (except in different venues) so why shouldn't you. Most of us "enemy" really don't care. Sorry for those minority bridge and tunnel crowd who give us a bad name by taking their homophobia out on you but most of us are pretty much on the sidelines when it comes to who you want to have sex with.
I hope both Pride and Dykes can some day view each other the way most of us view both of your groups - with somewhat curious indifference.
Have a great weekend to all!