National Mall

Many gay activist groups came together to plan the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. About a million people attended and the march ended with a performance from Ru Paul on the National Mall. Organizers decided to make the focus of the march on gay military members in response to Clinton's recent upholding of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

In Fall 1992, the Lesbian Avengers of New York heard that the March on Washington would have no special portion for lesbians. Furthermore, concerns of diversity were overlooked by organizers of the March on Washington. Upon hearing this, the Lesbian Avengers conceived the Dyke March, deciding that it would be held on the evening of August 24th, the day before the March on Washington.

The organizing of the inaugural Dyke March was undertaken by many different lesbian groups around the country. The Lesbian Avengers of New York started hanging flyers in New York City in November of 1992. They also arranged for marshals and created a manifesto that addressed the need for a grass-roots campaign in response to the anti-gay bills being pushed by the right wing. ACT UP and Puss n' Boots from Los Angeles made a large banner, and ACT UP in Philadelphia made a large vagina puppet. Two days before the march, the Lesbian Avengers handed out over 8,000 palm cards to pedestrians in Washington D.C..

History, DC Dyke March. Accessed December 9th 2020. https://www.dcdykemarch.com/history/.

Herstory of the Dyke March, NYC Dyke March. Accessed December 9th 2020. https://www.nycdykemarch.com/herstory.