Pittsburgh stories through photos

A marching band, a variety of chants and dozens of flags enlivened Liberty Avenue on Saturday in Bloomfield. But this was no ordinary parade. A crowd of around 250 people gathered for the 15th year of the Pittsburgh Dyke March. This year the event, which celebrates lesbians and queer people at-large, focused on supporting transgender Americans amid ongoing rollbacks of trans rights, such as the recent ban of transgender soldiers in the U.S. military. 

Danielle Shellgren, a march organizer, said “we really wanted to make our mission about the trans community because so many of their rights are under attack, even here in Pittsburgh with UPMC,” referring to the hospital’s decision to curb gender affirming healthcare to people under 19, following an executive order by the Trump administration. 

The group also condemned other Trump policies such as raids on communities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and proposed cuts to Medicare.  The marchers also  protested the Israeli invasion and blockade of Gaza. “None of us are free ‘til all of us are free,” Shellgren said of the group’s Palestinian activism.  

Chants of “free free Palestine,” “no justice, no peace,” and simply “dyke, dyke, dyke” echoed from the crowd as they marched through the streets. The march led to Bloomfield Park, where vendors set up to serve food, table community information and ink temporary tattoos.

Organizers of the march, who later said that as many as 2,000 people participated in the event, spoke about the importance of staying politically active in the current climate. Then the DJ started playing music and the party began. 

Editor’s note (6/10): This story was amended to include estimates of participation submitted by organizers after initial publication.

Caleb Kaufman is a photojournalist at PublicSource and can be reached at caleb@publicsource.org and on instagram at @caleb_kaufman_photography

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Pittsburgh Dyke March highlights trans rights as federal threats mount

by Caleb Kaufman, Pittsburgh's Public Source
June 9, 2025

<h1>Pittsburgh Dyke March highlights trans rights as federal threats mount</h1> <p class="byline">by Caleb Kaufman, Pittsburgh's Public Source <br />June 9, 2025</p> <p>A marching band, a variety of chants and dozens of flags enlivened Liberty Avenue on Saturday in Bloomfield. But this was no ordinary parade. A crowd of around 250 people gathered for the 15th year of the Pittsburgh Dyke March. This year the event, which celebrates lesbians and queer people at-large, focused on supporting transgender Americans amid ongoing rollbacks of trans rights, such as the recent ban of transgender soldiers in the U.S. military.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-7.jpg" alt="Two people wearing helmets, sunglasses, and black outfits blow bubbles on bicycles, with others in the background." class="wp-image-1319674" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A person blows bubbles during the Pittsburgh Dyke March on Saturday, June 7, in Bloomfield. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-8.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1319675" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">March participants hold signs protesting the Trump administration during the Pittsburgh Dyke March on June 7. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-10.jpg" alt="A group of street musicians play instruments, including accordion, saxophone, and trombone, while standing outdoors near a fence and a freeway." class="wp-image-1319677" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The marching band plays during the Pittsburgh Dyke March. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <p>Danielle Shellgren, a march organizer, said “we really wanted to make our mission about the trans community because so many of their rights are under attack, even here in Pittsburgh with UPMC,” <a href="https://www.publicsource.org/upmc-gender-affirming-care-protest-rally-trump-executive-order/">referring to the hospital’s decision to curb gender affirming healthcare</a> to people under 19, following an executive order by the Trump administration.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-2.jpg" alt="People at a protest hold signs with the colors of the transgender flag; one sign reads “DEATH B4 DETRANS.” Several attendees wear masks and some are shirtless." class="wp-image-1319669" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marchers hold signs with transgender flags during the Pittsburgh Dyke March. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-6.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1319673" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">People chant during the the Pittsburgh Dyke March. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-1.jpg" alt="Two motorcyclists with pride flags wait on a city street; one wears a sheer black top and helmet, the other wears a motorcycle suit and helmet." class="wp-image-1319668" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Two bikers wait for the Pittsburgh Dyke March to begin. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <p>The group also condemned other Trump policies such as raids on communities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and proposed cuts to Medicare.&nbsp; The marchers also&nbsp; protested the Israeli invasion and blockade of Gaza. “None of us are free ‘til all of us are free,” Shellgren said of the group’s Palestinian activism.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-4.jpg" alt="A hand holds up a flag with the Palestinian colors and the words &quot;trannies for Palestine&quot; at a public demonstration." class="wp-image-1319671" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A marcher carries a Palestinian flag with "trannies for Palestine" written on it during the Pittsburgh Dyke March on June 7, in Bloomfield. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1319670" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A member of the marching band plays the bass drum during the Pittsburgh Dyke March. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-9.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1319676" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marchers gather in Bloomfield Park after the Pittsburgh Dyke March on June 7. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <p>Chants of “free free Palestine,” “no justice, no peace,” and simply “dyke, dyke, dyke” echoed from the crowd as they marched through the streets. The march led to Bloomfield Park, where vendors set up to serve food, table community information and ink temporary tattoos. </p> <p>Organizers of the march, who later said that as many as 2,000 people participated in the event, spoke about the importance of staying politically active in the current climate. Then the DJ started playing music and the party began. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-11.jpg" alt="Three people attach a banner reading “DYKE MARCH PGH 2025” to a chain-link fence at an outdoor event. A transgender pride flag is visible in the background." class="wp-image-1319678" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">March participants hang up a banner in Bloomfield Park on June 7. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-13.jpg" alt="Two people face each other smiling and talking at an outdoor event, one holding a fan, surrounded by other attendees under a bridge." class="wp-image-1319680" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Participants in the Pittsburgh Dyke March celebrate together in Bloomfield. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PittsburghDykeMarch-12.jpg" alt="Two people stand in front of a microphone, singing to a crowd under a bridge; three others stand behind them, with a graffiti-covered wall in the background." class="wp-image-1319679" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Renee Williams (center) sings a song after the Pittsburgh Dyke March. (Photo by Caleb Kaufman/PublicSouce)</figcaption></figure> <p><em>Editor's note (6/10): This story was amended to include estimates of participation submitted by organizers after initial publication.</em></p> <p><em>Caleb Kaufman is a photojournalist at PublicSource and can be reached at </em><a href="mailto:caleb@publicsource.org"><em>caleb@publicsource.org</em></a><em> and on instagram at </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/caleb_kaufman_photography/"><em>@caleb_kaufman_photography</em></a></p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-dyke-march-highlights-trans-rights-2025/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.publicsource.org&quot;&gt;Pittsburgh&#039;s Public Source&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/www.publicsource.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-ps_circle_favicon_blue.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p> &lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://www.publicsource.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=1319681&amp;amp;ga4=G-CCLXQK5C14&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-dyke-march-highlights-trans-rights-2025/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/publicsource.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

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