Calling the San Francisco Dyke March โa hell of a lot more than a walk in the neighborhood with a banner,โ organizers on Saturday tried to reinvigorate enthusiasm for the march, which has, in recent years, undergone a leadership shift.
โItโs about community organizing. It’s about engagement,โ said M. Rocket, a member of a new steering committee for the group. โIt’s about deciding what’s important to us and what is on the banners that we hold. It’s about including all of us, our giant dyke community.โ
News outlets this summer reported that the Dyke March had been cancelled for the year, but Rocket said that was inaccurate: The Dyke March has, since a 2018 leadership change, been an impromptu affair, and the purpose of the new town halls is “to see if there’s enough people around who really want to do it” in an organized fashion, said Rocket.
Organizers of todayโs first town hall, held at the Chan National Queer Arts Center, are all members of the new interim steering committee that includes Rocket, Ruth Villasenor, Crystal Mason and Celestina Pearl. The former board disbanded this summer before the march, which generally happens on the Saturday of Pride weekend.
About 40 people attended today’s meeting in person, with another dozen participating on Zoom. Rocket said the town halls are meant to calibrate interest, to โsee if there’s enough community engagement and willingness to invest your time, your dollars, your community energy into bringing this back in in a way that we want to build.โ
The motorcycle parade, a staple of the march, traditionally attracted as many as 500 attendees. Post-pandemic, however, that number has decreased by half.
Villasenor is one of those dykes on motorcycles. For them, the march was particularly special because, being Native American, they always felt the march made space for their community.
โWhat I loved most about the Dyke March is that they always did include us,โ said Villasenor, who wants a younger generation to experience the Dyke March.
โWe’re here, and we need to make sure that they understand that, and that we’re really visible and strong,โ said Villasenor.
About an hour into the meeting, participants broke into six groups and exchanged ideas on how to bring back a welcoming Dyke March.
One of the challenges is the cost of the march, which includes going through the permitting process with the Recreation and Parks Department, for Dolores Park.
Rocket said the committee is projecting a budget between $20,000 to $50,000, which the community will have to raise on its own or through grants.
Despite the challenges ahead, interim member Pearl sees a bright future for the event next summer.
โIt’s about the enthusiasm for it [the march] and the interest and pitching in to be a part of it,โ said Pearl. โI’m seeing a lot of that, and I’m really excited for that.โ
The interim committee is looking to recruit members who can be part of seven committees: Accessibility, finances and operations, fundraising, infrastructure, outreach, production and volunteers. Also, it is looking to elect a new permanent board consisting of at least seven to eight people.
Mason, an interim member, called the meeting, which finished just before 2 p.m., a great success.
โI’m excited because people aren’t just interested. They’re willing to jump in and do stuff,โ said Mason. โThat’s always the hardest mountain to climb when trying to organize something like this, is getting people committed to actually doing things.โ
The next town hall will take place Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the SF LGBT Center at 1800 Market St. between 6 to 8 p.m.
This piece has been updated with additional comments from M. Rocket, and to clarify that the motorcycle parade is not affiliated with the group Dykes on Bikes.
I’m a long-time attendee of this event. I think last year’s canceled march offered a great idea in how to make this event more budget-friendly. Here’s the plan: scrap the stage. The stage is a giant expense but, I argue, one that offers little in return. It is too loud to hear (anything) when you’re close to it, and when you’re further away, no one is paying attention to it. It adds congestion and noise pollution to an already-crowded day. Honestly, the lack of stage was great last year. I hope the organizing committee focuses solely on street-closure permits and porto’s. Another pre-event priority: clearly announce the start time of the march down 18th Street online and with signage throughout the park. Do less, win more. Thank you.
Dykes on Bikes does not lead the Dyke March but some members may be a part of it. Just to clarify. Thank you!
I never attend this event as it seems geared toward the ladies. However, representation
is important to insure that were not going to be erased as more of our events and venues vanish.
They need how many meetings to walk down 18th Street?
I just walked down 18th Street last night! Didn’t even take a meeting first! I just did it!