See/Hear Lesbian Rights Advocate Robin Tyler At Bixby Park Rally Launching Inaugural Long Beach "Dyke March"; Crowd Swells As Residents Join March From Nearby Neighborhood

(May 17, 2013) -- Outspoken remarks by veteran lesbian rights advocate Robin Tyler (LBREPORT.com webcast screen save right), preceded by supportive remarks from Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal and Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal (audio clips below) launched Long Beach's inaugural "Dyke March" coinciding with the city's 30 year Pride Week events.

Photo credit: Joe Mello

"My name is Robin Tyler and I am a Dyke. D-Y-K-E," Ms. Tyler told the crowd to applause. As for using the word "dyke" [traditionally was pejorative], Ms Tyler said, "...I'll tell you what I think of the word "Dyke." I think it's great, because what a Dyke is is a lesbian warrior. It means rather than knocking on the door and saying 'please can we have our rights,' we kick in the door and we demand our rights. That's a Dyke," she said.

To view VIDEO of Ms. Tyler's rally remarks, click video icon below.

Video streaming by Ustream

To hear podium remarks of Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal, click here.

Photo credit: Joe Mello

To hear podium remarks of Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, click here.

[Note: The podium MC introduced Assemblywoman Lowenthal -- as a compliment for her supportive legislation -- as an "honorary dyke"...and Assemblywoman Lowenthal briefly refers to this in her remarks.]

Photo credit: Joe Mello

The event at its height drew almost 200 people to Bixby Park at 6:30 p.m...

Photo credit: Joe Mello

...and the crowd swelled to nearly 300 people as residents came from nearby homes to join the marchers as they headed west along Broadway to Alamitos Ave.

Viewers to LBREPORT.com's live webcast heard multiple supportive car-horn honks along the march route (see/hear video below).

Video streaming by Ustream

LBREPORT.com Community Correspondent Joe Mello webcast the event LIVE as part of extended Pride week coverage, making the Long Beach event accessible citywide, statewide and beyond. The March was independently organized by Long Beach's non-profit Artful Thinking Organization.

Featured speaker Tyler, with then-partner (later wife) Diane Olson, became the first lesbian couple married in Los Angeles County (May 2008) after their lawsuit prevailed in the CA Supreme Court. Six months later, CA voters passed Proposition 8 which ended the short lived window for same-sex marriages in the state. Proposition 8 is now before the U.S. Supreme Court with a decision expected on that case in the coming weeks.

Ms. Tyler told the rally crowd that Ms. Olson is still her wife...and gave her a public kiss.