Dyke March 2012 - London

London's first dyke march since the 1980s began with a rally in Soho Square from which over 600 women then marched through Soho and Trafalgar Square to the National Theatre.

This was an event that brought back memories of the 80s and 90s, before the annual Pride march became a carnival parade. The Dyke March London 2012 set out to support dyke visibility and welcomed "dykes, queers, bisexuals, transwomen, genderqueers and allies" and "all folk who want to support dykes to march with us" in "a grassroots, non-commercial, anti-racist, community-centred, accessible, inclusive event."

Speakers at the rally before the march were Kirstean Hearn, the chair of Inclusion London and someone who as a member of Eqaulity 2005 gives disability equality advice to government, Lady Phyll Opoku, co-founder and Managing Director of UK Black Pride, journalist and founding editor of METQ magazine Paris Lees, Shi tou, an artist and film-maker who was the frist lesbian to come out on Chinese TV and one of China's most prominent lesbian activists, and Clare B Dimyon, awarded a MBE in 2010 for her work supporting LGBT people in Central and Eastern Europe. All of the speeches were BSL signed.

After the rally the march set off through the crowded night streets of Soho; immediately behind the main banner came the dykes on bikes along with several in wheelchairs and then the crowd of around 600 on foot, many with placards, posters or banners and displaying a wide range of styles of dress. It was a joyful and affirming event and one which united all aspects of the lesbian community.