Annual lesbian event takes positive stance

Marisa O’Neil

The controversy and protests of the past seemed noticeably absent

from this year’s Dyke March Saturday afternoon.

Instead, bands played, children blew bubbles and about 100

friends, parents and partners -- straight and gay -- sat chatting

with one another in Lions Park. The third-annual event coincidently

fell on the same day that the American Civil Liberties Union and the

city signed an agreement settling a lawsuit filed last August

concerning the way Costa Mesa issued permits for such gatherings.

Applying for the permit this year went more smoothly than in past

years, said Terry Stone, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian

Community Services Center of Orange County.

“The city was very accommodating to our needs [this year],” Stone

said. “We’re glad to be in Costa Mesa and we hope they’re glad we’re

here, too.”

The ACLU filed the suit last year, arguing that the event permit

process, which included a 21-point rule book of regulations as an

addendum, was unconstitutional.

This year the march expanded its name to the Orange County Women’s

Festival and Dyke March. It included live bands, drag performances,

vendors and information about women’s health issues as well as the

march down 18th Street to Pomona Avenue and around the block.

The goal was to make an event that was socially inclusive to all

people, said co-coordinator Vanessa La Torre.

“This event is about really coming together,” she said.

The annual march is a good way to gather and bring awareness to

issues like same-sex marriage said Joe Delaplaine, coordinator for

the Coalition for Equal Marriage Rights.

“The Dyke March is important because they’re the only ones who’ve

consistently had an event in Orange County,” Delaplaine said. “It’s

open to everybody, it’s free and it’s fun.”

No protesters showed up as they have at previous marches, La Torre

said. Police were on hand for traffic control during the march, but

didn’t report any problems.

“When we show up over and over [members of the community] can

understand and be more welcoming,” Stone said.

Curious onlookers watched once the march got underway, with the

help of a police escort. Marchers carried signs with slogans like

“Lesbian Rights” and “I see gay people,” and chanted “Hey hey, ho ho,

homophobia’s got to go.”

The procession didn’t ruffle nearby resident Beth Smits, who stood

smoking a cigarette in her 18th Street driveway as they passed by.

“Why would it bother me?” she said. “Live and let live.”

Others took a slightly less laissez-faire attitude. A heavily

tattooed man couldn’t help but comment as he drove past.

“I think I’m gonna barf,” he said.