What is Dyke March London?
The organising committee says: "Dyke March London is about
dykes. We support dyke visibility and celebrate our love and
passion for women and all dykes. Dyke March London is for everyone:
dykes, queers, bisexuals, transwomen, genderqueers and allies. This
is a grassroots, non-commercial, anti-racist, community-centred,
accessible, inclusive event: we welcome all folk who want to
support dykes to march with us."
Check out Dyke March London's Facebook
page for more details.
When's it happening?
The march will gather at Soho Square, London W1D for speakers at
5pm on Saturday 31 March before proceeding to the BFI Southbank
(where marchers are welcome to join the various events taking place
as part of the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival).
The exact route will be posted on the Facebook
page shortly.
Who will be speaking at Dyke March London?
* Lady Phyll Opoku is the co-founder and Managing
Director of UK Black Pride.
* Kirsten Hearn is a prominent disability campaigner
* Paris Lees is founding editor of META magazine, a digital
magazine by, about and for trans and genderqueer people and a
regular contributor to DIVA
* Shi tou is an artist, painter, filmmaker and one of China's
most prominent lesbian activists
* Clare B Dimyon is a solidarity LGBT activist who received an
MBE in 2010 for her work supporting LGBT people in Central &
Eastern Europe
Will there be transport for people with
disabilities?
The organisers say: "Dyke March London is committed to being an
accessible event and we have done our utmost within our resources
to ensure a safe space for people with disabilities and mobility
issues:
- * People with disabilities or mobility issues are invited to
walk at the front, to set the pace for the rest of the march.
- * Two manual wheelchairs and an accessible vehicle are
available at the back of the march for anyone who is tired or needs
a lift.
- * A BSL signer will be signing during the speeches and will
also be available at the front when we are marching.
- Our stewards have received accessibility training from the
fantastic LGBT disability charity Regard.There will be manual
wheelchairs available and a minibus on hand for anyone who needs a
lift. BSL signers will be available for the speeches and also
during the march. We aim to have a list of accessible toilets on
the march route to hand out on the day.
Please do not hesitate to let our stewards know if you have any
needs (identifiable in high visibility vests)."
For more info, check the Facebook
page.
Will there be a women-only section in the
march?
The organising committee says: "DML is organised by and for
dykes, and is inclusive of our allies who would like to join this
dyke-centric event. We've always envisaged that the march would be
self-identified dyke/woman-led, expected this would be the
understanding of our allies and anticipate this is how the march
will present on the day.
Anyone who would like to organise a women's bloc is welcome, for
example, to post a meeting time/place on this wall for a woman's
bloc to gather and join the march.
There will be no policing of gender or sexuality on the march.
This is a choice we made at the very conception of DML.
Unacceptable behaviour by individuals (of any gender or sexuality)
will not be tolerated - misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, racism,
ableism and ageism have no place at this event."
I'd love to march but I don't know anyone who's
going!
Look out for the flowery umbrella in Soho Square, where a
volunteer will be greeting and introducing people. Check the
Facebook group for more details (you can make contact in advance if
you feel a bit shy).
Are children welcome?
Yes - Dyke March London is family-friendly.
Will there be Dykes on Bikes?
There will be Dykes on Bicycles! Want to join in? Look for
details on the Facebook
page.
Will there be an after-party?
There's loads going on at the BFI Southbank on Saturday night,
where the 26th London Lesbian and Gay Film
Festival will be in full swing. London's mingliest women's
night out, Southbank
Surfing, kicks off at 7pm in the Benugo bar, and there are DJs
in the BFI's Riverside bar too. Marchers are welcome.
Who are the organisers?
A collective of women who thought it was time London had its own
dyke march, and decided to organise one.
How is Dyke March London funded?
The organisers say: "Dyke March London will be entirely funded
by donations.
We need money for a number of things: to cover promotion including
printing flyers, materials and paints for banners and placards for
the day, the cost of sound equipment, generator and stage for the
rally at the beginning of the march and the hire of a vehicle to
transport it to Soho Square, an accessibility fund for
transport/wheelchair hire for those who can't walk the whole of the
march route - and so it goes on...
We are getting as many as we can of the resources required for
free so these remaining costs really are essential.
We're not expecting to raise any more money than we need. However,
if are very lucky and gain more donations than expected or come in
under budget, we'll be donating every excess penny to LGBT women's
health, mental health and other support organisations and projects.
We'll be able to be more specific about exactly which charities
shortly."
Every little bit helps make Dyke March happen. You can donate
via the bucket collections on the day of the march, or make a
secure online donation here:
http://www.indiegogo.com/Dyke-March-UK.
See you at Dyke March!
