"In 2005, San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® submitted declarations from more than two dozen expert witnesses arguing that 'dyke' was not disparaging, but instead had become a self-referential term of pride and empowerment."
"After years of litigation spearheaded by Brooke Oliver, Dykes on Bikes® was finally registered with the USPTO in 2007, marking a significant victory for the group."
"The USPTO rejected the application in 2004 on the grounds that 'dyke' was disparaging to lesbians, igniting a lengthy legal battle for trademark recognition."
"In 2015, the group applied to register its logo, but the USPTO denied registration again, citing the term 'dyke' as disparaging."
Dykes on Bikes® began in 1976 with a group of women motorcyclists at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day March. As the group grew, it organized as the Women's Motorcycle Contingent to manage parade logistics. In 2003, they sought trademark protection for their name, leading to a 13-year legal battle after initial rejection by the USPTO. The term 'dyke' was argued to be a term of pride, and in 2007, the trademark was finally registered. Subsequent attempts to register their logo faced similar challenges.
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
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