The Vancouver Dyke March and Festival celebrates and centres the experiences of those whose gender identity or expression intersects with their sexual orientation to further marginalize them within the broader 2SLGBTQIA+ community, including but not limited to trans and cisgender women and femmes, butches, as well as other trans, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals.

We use the term “dyke” to reclaim a term that was a slur, much like people have reclaimed the term “queer.” We see “dyke” as an organizing principle of protest and celebration, rather than shorthand for a specific identity. We recognize that not all participants identify as dykes,  and may prefer terms such as lesbian, queer, Two-Spirit, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, aromantic, or other terms.

We are friendly to all families and relationships, and especially those that challenge heterocentric norms, including singles, non-monogamous, non-normative, multi-parent, and multi-generational families, childless families, chosen families, and families of all other shapes and sizes.

Within the Vancouver Dyke March and Festival, we strive to create space and visibility for those who are marginalized on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, abilities, class, immigration status, or age, and who do not always feel represented by the larger Pride movement.

We welcome those who wish to stand in solidarity with our communities. You can do this by financially contributing to the Vancouver Dyke March, attending the March and Festival while keeping the focus where it belongs, and by being open to listening, learning and growing.

(Updated June 2023)

Read our three statements of belonging for Indigenous communities, Racialized communities, and trans communities.

• Indigenous Belonging

• Racial Belonging

• Trans Belonging

The Vancouver Dyke March and Festival strives to create space and visibility for those who are marginalized within the larger pride movement. This means that our event volunteers and organizers use their best efforts to provide an environment for all participants that is free from discrimination on any ground and from harassment, including sexual harassment.

Volunteers and organizers are always on the look out for the safety of all participants. However, if at any point during the March or Festival you feel unsafe, are bothered by behaviour you have witnessed, or are concerned about the safety of another participant, we ask that you inform a volunteer or organizer immediately. If you are unable to identify a volunteer nearby, you can always reach us at the Vancouver Dyke March tent at Grandview Park. Individuals who act in a manner that makes others feel unsafe, especially after an initial encounter, may be asked to leave.

Discrimination

Discrimination includes any mistreatment or disadvantage on the basis of gender identity, expression, or presentation, sexual orientation, age, ability, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, or any other factor.

Any coordinated or intentional attempt to intimidate or exclude participants from the March or Festival on the basis of any of the above grounds is unacceptable. If this behaviour is brought to the attention of the board during the march or festival, it will be addressed, and participants engaging in this behaviour may be asked to leave.

We recognize that folks come to the Dyke March with different understandings of privilege, social oppression, identity and community. Mistakes may happen. Because of this, we encourage participants to speak to us about behaviour that bothers them. We also encourage participants who misstep to be open to learning and to changing their behaviour.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that makes a person feel offended, humiliated, intimidated, or hurt. All complaints of sexual harassment will be taken seriously and treated with respect and in confidence.

Some Guidelines for Participants

• Avoid making assumptions about other people’s identity, including, but not limited to, race, sex, and gender. Let others disclose the information they choose to.

• The individuals and communities who attend the Vancouver Dyke March are diverse. It is okay for individuals at the March to be different from one another. Do not police how people are allowed to identify themselves.

• TERFs/SWERFs and other groups who are seeking to intimidate or spread hate are absolutely not welcome at our event.

• The Vancouver Dyke March is a non-violent protest and we seek to ensure safety for all participants.

• Report any concerns to a Vancouver Dyke March volunteer or organizer. During the event, we will respond to these issues on a case by case basis, doing our best to ensure all participants’ safety.

• Questions or concerns that are not urgent or that arise after the event can also be addressed to: queeries@vancouverdykemarch.com