2 mins
TAKING UP SPACE
On Friday, June 27, dykes from all around Ireland will descend on Dublin to march through the capital, raising their voices on several important issues. Ahead of the occasion, organiser Alice Linehan shares further details. Photo from GCN Archive.
Dublin — Dyke — March
The first-ever Dyke March took place in Washington, DC, on April 24, 1993. However, other similar events had been organised for many years before then. Lesbian Strength marches took place in London throughout the ‘80s, the first reported to have been on June 27, 1981. Even earlier than that, on March 8, 1980, 40 lesbians gathered and walked through Wellington Park in New Zealand/Aotearoa, marking what is considered to be history’s first-ever lesbian visibility march. Ireland had its first Dyke March in Dublin on June 26, 1998, and now, 35 years later, it’s coming back to the capital. The theme for the 2025 Dublin Dyke March is ‘Space’. This encompasses not only the historical context of such events as a way for the community to demand visibility, but it also refers to a number of pressing issues today.
Lack of space
There is a lack of space for dykes in Dublin and across the country, whether that’s accommodation or social spaces. Regarding the housing crisis, there is no legal right to housing in Ireland. In 2022, the government committed to a referendum on the issue, and three years on, the country has recorded record levels of homelessness and people in emergency accommodation. In January 2025, 15,286 people were experiencing homelessness in Ireland, including 4,603 children and 2,164 families.
Additionally, there is a lack of permanent dyke venues in Ireland. The rising costs of living combined with flawed licensing laws and high VAT rates make it incredibly challenging for LGBTQ+ venues to exist. Having these spaces is essential as they create environments where people can express and explore themselves without fear of judgement, discrimination or violence.
Policing of space
Trans and non-binary people around the world are being increasingly targeted by hate-fueled campaigns, with efforts to exclude and erase the community escalating this year. In the US, the Trump administration has introduced countless measures to roll back the rights of trans and non-binary folk, while in the UK, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the legal definition of ‘woman’ has paved the way for exclusionary policies and practices to be introduced. We must continue to advocate for inclusion in women’s+ spaces and society as a whole, and ensure that Ireland does not follow in the footsteps of its neighbours.
Anti-LGBTQ+ laws have also been introduced in the EU this year, notably in Hungary, where the government has banned public events for the queer community, pushing the nation closer towards authoritarianism.
Invasion of space
The ongoing genocide in Gaza has caused over 53,000 deaths since October 2023. The population is on the brink of famine, as Israel has been using starvation as a weapon by blocking humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, from reaching those in need for the past number of months. Benjamin Netanyahu, for whom the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, has said that “there will be no way” that Israel will stop and that any ceasefire deal will be temporary. Ireland has stood by idly for far too long. The government must sanction Israel and introduce the Occupied Territories Bill, and must ensure that State institutions are not facilitating genocide through the sale of Israeli war bonds.
The march also takes place in solidarity with those subjected to military violence in Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, and further afield.
Join the Dublin Dyke March on Friday, June 27, assembling at the Garden of Remembrance at 6:45pm. More information can be found on Instagram at @dykemarchdublin.