'It feels so nice to walk up the street and feel accepted': Dyke March takes over downtown - Action News
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'It feels so nice to walk up the street and feel accepted': Dyke March takes over downtown

They shouted, drummed and biked their way down Yonge Street to Carlton Street, many rocking the Pride colours. Led by the Black Lives Matter Toronto Coalition, the annual Dyke March wrapped up at Allan Gardens, where marchers were entertained by queer local artists, performers, poets, and activists.

Thousands take part in annual Dyke March down Yonge Street

The Black Lives Matter Toronto Coalition led the annual Dyke March down Yonge Street to Carlton Street on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. (Isabelle Gobeil/CBC)

They shouted,drummed and biked their way down Yonge Street to Carlton Street on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, many rocking the Pride colours.

(Isabelle Gobeil/CBC)

Led by the Black Lives Matter Toronto Coalition, the annual Dyke March wrapped up at Allan Gardens where marchers were entertained by local queer artists, performers, poets, and activists.

(Isabelle Gobeil/CBC)

"I came out at the beginning of this year so it's important for me to get out there and meet everyone and see what it's like," one woman told CBC News. "It's amazing, it's so diverse. You look everywhere and there are so many different people from every culture. It feels so nice to walk up the street and feel accepted. It's awesome!"

(Isabelle Gobeil/CBC)

One woman said the march "helps me celebrate my sexuality."

"I also run a gay-straight alliance at a high school and I want to show [the students]there are places to go that are safe and comfortable where they can celebrate themselves."

(Isabelle Gobeil/CBC)

Another marcher told CBC News that "after what happened in Orlando, it made us aware that we still need to be a presence.

"I thought about the security briefly but then decided not to think about it because I don't want to live in fear," she said. "We just want to be here and celebrate who we are."

Drag ON! event also a hit

Also on Saturday, 73drag queens and kingsstrutted their stuff at Yonge and Dundas Squareand performed song and dance numbers for the Drag ON! event.

Drag ON! event saw drag queens performing song and dance numbers at Yonge and Dundas square. (Michael Charles Cole/CBC)

They made history, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest drag artist stage show ever. The show started a 2 p.m. and is scheduled to run until 11 p.m.

Several of the performers were from RuPaul's Drag Race television show, includingDerrick Barry, a 'Britney Spears impersonator extraordinaire,' according to the Pride Toronto website.

(Michael Charles Cole/CBC)

The record was previously set in 2014 at the Axis Nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, when 55 performers took the stage.

(Michael Charles Cole/CBC)

"Pride Toronto brings everything to the next level if we're going to present a drag show, then we're going to do the biggest in the world,"said Pride Toronto executive director MathieuChantelois.

(Michael Charles Cole/CBC)

"I'm thrilled that this show is going down in the record books.This is a massive moment for drag performance, and we've taken the stakes and the heels to a higher level than ever before," added Chantelois.

Pride Month 2016 wraps up tomorrow after a day of music, performances, and the Pride parade.