Surrey Dyke March returns for second annual march this month

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The Surrey Dyke March returns for its second year on Aug. 19 after organizers received calls from last year’s participants to see it continue. The march is about creating a space for lesbian representation and community, an event Ché Baines, an organizer of the march, says has generally had a long history. 

“They began as a way to talk about the particular issues that first queer women [face], and then it expanded to queer women and other people who identify in some capacity with womanhood, even if they are non-binary, … because sometimes they were overshadowed by the gay male community,” Baines says. 

“Surrey Dyke March started to create that kind of space in Surrey because there wasn’t a lot of visibility for the queer community [in] Surrey in general, especially [for] queer women and non-binary folks.”

The march will begin at the Surrey Civic Plaza at 1:00 pm, where Elders from the local First Nations will give a land acknowledgement. Baines says there might be a few speakers to kick-off the march, which will end in Holland Park. There will then be a gathering at the park, so participants can socialize with other people in the community.

Although the march is focused on queer women and non-binary people, Baines says allies are encouraged to attend as well.

“Just showing up is great. I think also there’s a certain protection [in] having people who are maybe not as affected by the issues, allies who can come and show that it’s not just a small fringe issue, [and] people outside the community’s support and care”

A highlight for Baines from the first march on Aug. 13, 2022, was seeing people come together, especially children.

“Personally, growing up queer was difficult and seeing that there’s kids now who can be out and proud at a young age, and they didn’t have that kind of experience, it’s so good,” they say.

Baines says the goal among organizers is to host the march annually, and hope to see more people participate.

Organizers of the march also operate on a set of core values, which include addressing concerns about capitalism and colonialism.

“It’s a very grassroots kind of organizing [with] really strong values about social justice, [being] anti-capitalist, [and] pro-Indigenous sovereignty,” they say. “I think in a lot of ways, there’s not a lot of spaces like that anymore that are very community-based [and] grassroots.”

Baines says they have seen more awareness among local organizations wanting to fund or support the march since it launched, which includes Vancouver Pride Society, Vancouver Trans March, Hospital Employees’ Union, and Vancouver Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a charity of queer nuns who contributed funds towards both marches.

There is also a GoFundMe page where individuals can donate to help cover expenses like supplies, honoraria for queer BIPOC organizers, ASL interpreters, and the transportation of Elders and people with disabilities, according to a Facebook post.

Baines hopes the 2SLGBTQ+ community will be more seen after the march.

“I think visibility is a big one for us. Just having people in Surrey and surrounding areas know that they aren’t alone. I think sometimes it can be a little bit isolating when you’re outside of the main hub of Vancouver for folks.”

For more information, visit https://surreydykemarch.carrd.co/.