Our March 2: Vindication Boogaloo

Comrade Daisy Ditchburn writes about their experiences participating in Our March, celebrating the kaupapa of OurPride, through liberating and celebrating with Auckland’s rainbow communities. First started in 2019 in response to the acceptance of uniformed police officers in Pride and rejuvenating the long history of struggle for LGBTQ rights.

It was with smug satisfaction that commenters and co-workers observed the rather low turn out to 2019s Our March. Never mind that 3,000 participants represent an incredible turn out, the lack of glitz and glamour, floats and adoring crowds that defined past years “pride” parades were enough, in their eyes, to deem the event a failure. As my co-worker and I picked up what little rubbish there was he informed me, with utter certainty, that Our March had been a mistake never to be repeated. Oh, how wrong he was.

To understand how this came to be one must understand the…