Hundreds rally for 1st-ever Sonoma Co. Dyke March in Santa Rosa: 'We're here. We're queer!'

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- Hundreds of people filled the streets of downtown Santa Rosa on Sunday for the first-ever Sonoma County Dyke March, marking a milestone moment for the local LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month.

Chants of "We're here. We're queer. Get used to it!" echoed through the city as participants marched more than a mile in a loud and proud show of unity, visibility and celebration.

Organizers say the event was created to uplift lesbian culture and reconnect a community that has seen many of its traditional gathering spaces disappear.

"I thought Sonoma County needs a Dyke March," said co-organizer Pam Adinoff.

Adinoff said the loss of long-standing LGBTQ+ spaces -- including bookstores, coffee shops and bars -- helped inspire her to organize the march.

2026 SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE PARADE: How to watch exclusively on ABC7, what to know

"We lost our bookstore, and our coffee houses and our bars. We have none," she said.

Beyond celebration, participants say the march comes at a critical time, as many in the LGBTQ+ community feel their rights and identities are under increasing scrutiny.

"It's incredibly important what's going on in the world. We're being targeted," Adinoff said. "We really want to pull our community together -- all generations, all identities."

For many attendees, the event was also about connection and representation.

"I think there's a lot of good-looking dykes, but I think they're cool, connected, creative people," said Santa Rosa resident Kim Ward.

MORE: Pink Triangle 'serves as a beacon' for LGBTQ+ community for 31st year on SF's Twin Peaks

"We do it in the big cities -- San Francisco, San Diego, New York -- but this is Santa Rosa," said Babs Daitch.

The march ended at Old Courthouse Square, where crowds gathered for a festival dubbed "Lez-a-Palooza," featuring music, community booths and speakers.

"Oh my God. I think it's beautiful. I didn't know so many women would come out. I love it," said Santa Rosa resident Marian Knox.

Organizers emphasized that visibility was at the heart of the event; simply showing up carries power.

"By showing up, I think we're hungry to be in community right now. There's a renewal of that," said Mo Morrison of Rohnert Park.

MORE: 'The queens had enough': Immersive play puts the audience in the middle of transgender rights riot

The event also highlighted the evolving meaning of the word "dyke," a term that was once widely used as a slur but has been reclaimed by many within the lesbian community.

"Some of us who have been out for a long time are OK with the word 'dyke,'" Adinoff said.

For those who took part, the message of the day was clear: Pride is not just a celebration. it's an act of visibility, resilience and activism.

"If we're not prideful about ourselves, who are we going to be prideful for?" Daitch said.