Dearest Dyke Community,

I've composed several versions of this in my head, aloud to the dykes closest to me and scribbled on papers around my house. Lengthy versions containing poetic but accurate herstory, edged with vulnerability and sadness. Versions airing laundry and chock-full of bitterness that I'm certain stems more from the collective, fever-pitch of struggle these past several years has dealt us, than it does solely from Dyke March (or any other event I organize). I have written versions overly-cheery, edging on an uncharacteristic Polyanna level positivity and brimming with faith in whatever is to come.

But if you know anything of me, then you likely know that despite my best efforts, even after all these years, and all the growing we've done together, I remain an extremist. It is such the awkward attempt for me to send this out minus a swing in either drastic direction. However, cliche as it is, even I know that the truest truth does so often lie somewhere in the middle. And so here you have my best shot at balance, in the form of my Dykes Only Space retirement announcement.

I began working Dyke March in 1999. 16 years later, a small group of fellow seasoned, yet still fired-up Dyke March organizers and I, split off in reaction to the increasing homogenization of this one day marked as ours. A day hard won by dykes in cities across the country, and the world. We created Dykes Only Space; a new home base from which to fight being absorbed by Pride and where we'd push back at the ever-encroaching masses of non-dykes. We delineated a portion of Dolores Park with what would become our signature and beloved "Dykes Only" caution tape.

This year will be the 11th and final year of the Dykes Only Space.

I am SO proud of our resistance and our resilience. The attempts to shut us down, relocate us and ultimately erase us have been mighty. But each year since our inception, we've expanded our perimeter. We've welcomed thousands of just about every flavor of dyke imagineable. I have had the absolute honor of getting to create a space, led by Black and Indigenous dykes, that has hosted the dykes who originally made this day possible, celebrated the return of elder dykes who had long since given up on Pride festivities and introduced Dyke Day to new generations of baby-dykes. We held this day down over the years that Dyke March wavered and then went dark.

Last year the official Dyke March returned with fresh faces, fresh energy and new ideas. While their vision was ultimately different than my own and I stepped back, I believe in the continuation of a Dyke Day and wish for their utmost success as this day evolves to reflect the shifts, expansions and needs of the community.

Thank you for trusting me with your joy, your fear, your fight, your grit and your revelry. It has been one of my greatest privileges and favorite adventures. I will see you for one last hurrah come Saturday, June 27th 2026.

And hey. Yes. Yes *of course* I've got something else cookin'. Stay tuned and consider this a "soft" retirement...

Onwards,

Koja Ray