Season 1 | Episode 6: D and Susie

Episode transcript available here.

In Episode 6 of Rainbow District, Beth talks to queer activists D and Susie about their experiences as organizers for the DC Dyke March. The DC Dyke March began annually in 1993, took a 12-year hiatus in 2007, and was brought back in 2019, which is when D and Susie got involved. In this episode, they discuss the organizing process, the 2024 theme, "Dykes Against Genocide," and the purpose of the march.

The first Dyke March took place on April 25, 1993 in Washington DC, attended by 20,000 self-identifying Dykes. The main organizers of the march were the Lesbian Avengers, a direct-action group founded in New York City in 1992. They created a manifesto about the necessity of grassroots lesbian organizing, and handed out 8,000 flyers advertising the event. Due to its success, Dyke Marches were planned in various cities that June, and have since continued worldwide.

Dyke March history sources: Lesbian Herstory Archives (n.d.); DCist (2019); NYC Dyke March (2018); Washington Blade (2019).

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