Mission

The mission of the Portland, Maine Dyke March is to create an empowering movement that fosters community and celebration for dykes and the people who love them. The Portland Dyke March seeks to be positive, feminist, diverse and community-driven in all of its endeavors.  We welcome anyone with a past or present connection to the dyke community.

Click here to read The Phoenix 2008 article about us.

Click here to read The Phoenix 2007 article about us.

Click here to read InNews Weekly's article The Dykes Go Marching On.

History of Portland’s Dyke March

June 2005: Jill Barkley, Melissa Heckman and Sarah Parker-Holmes decide to organize a “Dyke March Contingent” to march in the Southern Maine Pride Parade. They make fliers which read “Where are all the dykes in Portland?” and invite people to meet in Monument Square, where Jill, Melissa and Sarah hand out rainbow colored arm-bands before the parade.

June 17, 2005: The Dyke March Contingent marches together, winning the Purple Award for Best Community Spirit.

May 2006: Jill Barkley, Melissa Heckman, Pam McCann and Sarah Parker-Holmes meet and plan Portland’s first ever Dyke March in just over 3 weeks! They have a fundraiser at Styxx Bar in Portland, fill out permits and hope people show up to march!

June 17, 2006: The first annual Portland Dyke March is born! Around 150 people came out for a simple march led by a megaphone from Tommy’s Park to Congress Square.

January 2007: The Dyke March Committee is formed! Jill Barkley, Melissa Heckman, Jen Hodsdon, Audrey Luce and Sarah Parker-Holmes begin to meet monthly. The group plans fundraisers at Styxx and Maine Street Bar and ask Equality Maine to help sponsor the event. They plan for musical performers, speakers, roller derby girls, dykes on bikes and an after-part at the recently opened North Star Music Café. They also have posters, quarter-sheets and t-shirts designed by local artists and establish a website.

June 15, 2007: Portland’s 2nd Annual Dyke March happens, drawing almost 300 dykes and the people who love them to Monument Square. A pre-march rally is followed by the march and finally an after-show in Congress Square. The North Star Music Café hosts the after party with a local DJ, forming a fast partnership with the Dyke March.

October 2007: The first monthly fundraiser happens at the North Star Music Café to continue to build community and raise money for Dyke March 2008. Throughout 2007 and into 2008, around 100 people come out on the 3rd Friday of every month to socialize, dance and donate a $3 cover charge to the Portland Dyke March.

May 2008: The Portland Dyke March Committee develops a mission statement and a new website! The five member, volunteer committee plans for Portland’s 3rd Annual Dyke March to be held on Friday, June 20, 2008.

January 2009: The first Town Hall meeting is held to get community feedback and discuss the future of the Portland Dyke March.
Spring 2009: Monthly dance parties at the North Star Music Cafe continue to build community and raise funds for the Portland Dyke March.  In collaboration with Blackstones, the "Boy Meets Girl" happy hour events seek to build alliances with the greater LGBT community in Portland.  In April, an Open Mic night highlighted local musicians, spoken word artists, dancers, drag performers and more.  Many of these performers will be joining the community at the June Dyke March events.
May 2009: The planning committee and volunteers kick into high gear with the final preparations for the 4th annual Portland Dyke March to be held on Friday, June 19, 2009.