About
Why We March is a community-based organization rooted in the belief that human rights are not optional — they are essential. For over a decade, we have worked to create safer, more inclusive spaces where 2SLGBTQ+ people and allies can connect, learn, and stand together in the face of discrimination and injustice.
We exist to amplify voices that are too often ignored, to challenge systems that cause harm, and to remind our communities that progress is something we build together — through visibility, education, advocacy, and collective action.
Our work is grounded in compassion, courage, and community care. Whether we are hosting events, supporting grassroots initiatives, collaborating with partners, or speaking out when it matters most, our mission remains the same: to create a world where everyone can live openly, safely, and proudly.
Why We March is more than an organization — it’s a movement built on solidarity, resilience, and the belief that change is possible when people come together and refuse to stay silent.
We march because silence is never neutral — and because every step forward matters.
A Tribute to Pulse: The Spark That Lit Our March
On June 12, 2016, the world changed.
In the early hours of that morning, 49 lives were stolen, and countless others shattered, in a place that had always been a sanctuary—Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. What was meant to be a celebration of love, joy, and identity became one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history, and a stark reminder of the hatred still faced by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Pulse was more than a nightclub. It was a refuge. A space where queer people—especially queer people of colour—could dance, love, and live freely. That night, we lost not only lives but a sense of safety. But in the wake of that grief, something powerful began to rise.
Out of mourning, we found movement.
The horror of Pulse stirred something deep in our hearts. It reminded us that visibility is not just about celebration—it’s about survival. That pride must be protest. That our community must be louder, stronger, and more united than ever before. And so, Why We March was born—not just as a name, but as a call to action.
We march because Pulse was not the first attack—and it won’t be the last—unless we fight for change.
We march to honour the lives taken, the survivors, and all those who carry trauma in silence.
We march for queer spaces, for queer joy, for queer liberation.
Every step we take is for them.
Every banner we raise is in their memory.
Every chant we shout is a promise: that we will not go quietly.
The Pulse tragedy illuminated the pain that still exists in our world—but it also ignited the power within our community. It reminded us why we gather, why we organize, why we resist.
This is why we march.
In memory. In defiance. In love.
Land Acknowledgement
Why We March acknowledges that we live, work, and gather on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Lenape, and Attawandaron (Neutral) Peoples. This territory is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between nations to share and care for the land and its resources in peace.
As a 2SLGBTQIA+ organization rooted in community, we recognize that our work exists within the ongoing realities of colonization and its impacts on Indigenous Peoples, including Two-Spirit individuals and communities. We are committed to listening, learning, and building relationships grounded in respect, reciprocity, and accountability.
Land acknowledgment is not a statement of the past—it is a commitment to action. Why We March strives to support Indigenous voices, uplift Two-Spirit leadership, and contribute to a future rooted in justice, equity, and collective care.