Saturday night’s Seattle Dyke March was the 22nd edition of the event — the march invited some new, well-known guests just in time.

For the first time, Dykes on Bikes, the “motorcycle honor guard responsible for claiming and holding space for dykes in the streets,” led the march. “We’ve heard for years that people want the Dykes on Bikes to lead the Dyke March,” organizer Whitney Fraser said. “The Dykes on Bikes really embody the energy and the excitement of our event, and command respect and attention in a way that no one else can.”

2016 Dyke march #SeattlePride pic.twitter.com/1fKvav3BWp

— Alex Garland (@AGarlandPhoto) June 26, 2016

The guard’s services were put to good use when a group carrying “GOD HATES FAGS”-flavored signage emerged at the corner of John and Broadway outside Capitol Hill Station. Loud pipes save lives. They also drown out hate.

Dykes on Bikes roars down a few bigots (Image: Tim Durkan with permission to CHS)

After its march on Broadway and around the neighborhood and its multiple Pride Saturday events including the Capitol Hill Pride street fair and the “official” PrideFest fairs in Cal Anderson and on the Denny festival street, the Dyke March settled in for a celebration in Cal Anderson. The mostly sunny day was a sharp contrast to the deluge of rain that greeted (but couldn’t stop) the fourth Trans* Pride rally and march the night before. Across the two days, thousands warmed up for the big to-do downtown on Pride Sunday while others found their own flavor of community to march for and rally with.

You can view all 2016 CHS Pride coverage here.