LESBIANS TURN OUT EN MASSE : MARCHERS HELP RING IN GAY PRIDE FESTIVAL.Byline: Marni McEntee Daily News Staff Writer For Karen Sacks, marching down Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. Boulevard through West Hollywood West Hollywood A community of southern California northeast of Beverly Hills. It is mainly residential. Population: 36,600. with 250 other lesbians Saturday was a matter of visibility. ``It's just really nice to have dykes take to the streets,'' said Sacks, 54, of Venice. ``It's better to be in the street than in the closet.'' Gay pride, human rights and mutual support were oft-repeated themes during the Third Annual Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Dyke March Dyke March is a mostly lesbian led and inclusive gathering and protest march much like the original gay pride parades and marches. They usually occur the Friday or Saturday before LGBT Pride Parades and larger metropolitan areas have related events (parties, benefits, dances) both . The march helped ring in today's events scheduled for the 1996 Christopher Street West Christopher Street West (CSW) is the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Pride Parade and Festival held in June in West Hollywood, California, USA. Named after New York City's famed Christopher Street, the site of the Stonewall Rebellion. Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival, themed Pride Without Borders A number of NGOs have adopted the "Without Borders" tag, inspired by Doctors without Borders.
The women's event began three years ago in an effort to raise awareness about women's and lesbian issues in particular, said one organizer, Marita Forney. ``A lot of people still think of gay as being male only,'' Forney said. There could be no question, however, that the shrieks of delight that filled the night air as the marchers began their trek were those of hundreds of women. Among them were about 15 women in a motorcycle group who roared into action as police closed the boulevard. Some walkers carried signs, including this missive: ``Lesbians United in Armed Snuggle.'' Before the march, Lennette Oaks, 22, and Shari Mills, 27, stood arm in arm at the edge of the throng. It was their second year at the march. ``It's a way to show other people who maybe aren't out that there is support. And to support each other,'' Oaks said. Among Saturday's events was a domestic partnership commitment ceremony, presented by the West Hollywood Domestic Partnership Program. The program was billed as the nation's first to grant two nonmarried adults the right to declare a domestic partnership if they are monogamous partners who are responsible for each other's welfare, officials said. More than 300,000 people are expected to attend the 26th annual festival today, centered around West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente San Vicente (sän vēsān`tā), city (1993 pop. 28,529), central El Salvador. Among its industries are textile manufacturing and sugar milling. San Vicente is the commercial center of a region that produces coffee and sugarcane. Blvd. Among the attractions are 300 vendor booths and three entertainment areas. Christopher Street West is a nonprofit educational organization formed to work for gay rights. |
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