Stephen Harper found himself in a fist-fight against women in Toronto's streets Saturday -- and thousands cheered the pugilists on.

However, unlike in the House of Commons, this Harper -- not the actual prime minister -- was unable to fight back, being a papier mache doll and all.

The symbolic guest of honour was front and centre at the 13th annual Dyke March - the more political parade of Pride Week.

"He's got some tricky moves, so we'll have to be a little bit careful," Savoy Howe, founder of the Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Club told The Canadian Press, just before the march began.

As this year's "honoured dyke group," the Newsgirls were defending lesbian and trans rights to the core, she added.

Several hundred revellers took part in Toronto's march, the second largest event of the city's Pride Week activities.

Organizers said thousands of spectators looked on and cheered as the women and transgendered people took over Church, Bloor and Yonge Streets.

"I feel like it's my civic duty to come and start the parade," said one motorcyclist.

The Dyke March, the largest of its kind in Canada, is billed as a political demonstration to "revel in strength, diversity and passion," and brings the issues of lesbians and transgendered people to the fore.

"We're on the radar today, which is why I specifically like the Dyke March day," said Sue Wells, who has been involved with Pride Week since its inception in 1981.

Longtime social activist Anna Willats was named "honoured dyke."

The march is a grassroots event that stays away from corporate sponsorship. It's the prelude to the main attraction, the Pride Parade, which is now in its 28th year.

The parade, which begins at 2 p.m., draws about one million people to Toronto. Pride Week generates about $100 million for the local economy.

Click here for the Pride Parade route map.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Chris Eby and files from the Canadian Press