Attorneys find ‘Dykes on Bikes’ name offensive

**Bob** · 15th July 2005, 00:16

Despite having existed for nearly thirty years, San Francisco’s self-titled lesbian biker group “Dykes on Bikes” has spent a humiliating two years trying to trademark the name, which has been rejected on the grounds that "dyke" is vulgar, offensive and "scandalous." Patent office attorneys even point to Webster's dictionary, which says dyke is "often used disparagingly."

The applicants, in this case, prefer to call themselves dykes. Soni Wolf, Dykes on Bikes secretary, said "That word has been used for years to tear us down. And we said, 'OK, we're going to take it back. The women call themselves "dykes" for the same reason many gays have laid claim to "queer" -- to defang a word that has long been a slur.”

Despite accepting a trademark application for the television series "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, the patent office's refuses to accept the irony, stating that they were unfamiliar with the "Queer" case but that apparently "queer" was deemed not to have been as vulgar as "dyke."

The Dykes are appealing the decision to a trial panel. Politics and culture aside, there's a reason "Dykes on Bikes" resonates so much with people, Wolf said "It rhymes, it just kind of rolls off the tongue."

**placidfemme** · 15th July 2005, 07:35

lol bloody PC world... if they wanna be DYKES let em be DYKES... But why bother Trade Marking it... no-one else wants to be called that so why bother...

*makes no comment on the NZ group of DOB's*

**XTC** · 15th July 2005, 09:01

You mean there's a NZ group?? Thought you two were unique...

**zadok** · 15th July 2005, 09:10

If they want to be called that, I don't see a problem. All this sanitising words is getting rediculous. A few years ago a some aboriginal minority group wanted to stop "Coon" cheese from using the name. "Coon" which is the family name, have been producing cheese since early 1900's or something.

**placidfemme** · 15th July 2005, 10:14

Originally Posted by XTC

You mean there's a NZ group?? Thought you two were unique...

lol Sam and I are unique... just like everyone else lol

The NZ DOB's hardly do any rides... I joined up over a year ago, they said they'd contact me when they had a ride... heard of one ride (which I think was cancelled) and then never heard from them again... So if going for one ride a year is called a "group" then yeah... ok lol

**skidz** · 15th July 2005, 10:30

If they want the name DYKE, they should let them have it.

It's now 2005, not 1905!!!

**Beemer** · 15th July 2005, 11:25

Hey, and if the guys want to start a Wankers on Wheels (WOW!!!) group, I say let 'em!

I know WIMA suffered from the misconception that Dykes on Bikes was what they were, but I certainly didn't find them that way inclined in Wellington. Mind you, my brother told my mother he thought I was a lesbian! His reasoning? I had short hair, tattoos, wore Doc Martens and rode a motorcycle! My mother nearly wet herself laughing, and when I told a friend, he immediately clapped a hand to his head, looked at his feet and said "shit, I'm a lesbian and I never knew it! I knew I liked women, but no one ever told me I was a lesbian!"

**Pathos** · 26th July 2005, 22:47

Quote From Wikipedia: (among others of course)

- ...
- Dike is the Greek goddess of moral justice.
- ...

Just say its a misspelling...

**skidMark** · 26th July 2005, 22:58

ummm well thats stupid.... sorry guys need to say something in a post horing mood

**mstriumph** · 27th July 2005, 00:13

Absolutely ----- dead right IMHO

- remember thinking "has the world gone nuts?" when that cheese thing happened a while back. The disturbing thing to me is not that we have a vocal pc minority but that so many people seem afraid of saying 'no' to it, even when they disagree..... this allows it to wield an influence far in excess of its size

Originally Posted by zadok

If they want to be called that, I don't see a problem. All this sanitising words is getting rediculous. A few years ago a some aboriginal minority group wanted to stop "Coon" cheese from using the name. "Coon" which is the family name, have been producing cheese since early 1900's or something.

**mstriumph** · 27th July 2005, 00:24

quote -- "Attorneys find ‘Dykes on Bikes’ name offensive" -- unquote?

........ who was it that said "the law is an ass"?

**Storm** · 27th July 2005, 11:06

Sure you didnt mean "arse" ? Dont risk the Hitcher wrath

**mstriumph** · 27th July 2005, 13:49

nooo - Dickens did say 'ass' ......... there was/is a common misconception that donkeys are stupid rife among those who don't know any [donkeys, that is.....]