Trademark office OKs "Dykes on Bikes"

[tuvor]

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has reversed its initial refusal to trademark the phrase "Dykes on Bikes," paving the way for the name to be federally protected.

"We are thrilled 'Dykes on Bikes' will be protected under trademark and recognized as a celebration of our identity," said Vick Germany, president of the women's motorcycle group, in a written statement Thursday.

The push to trademark "Dykes on Bikes" started in July 2003 when members of the San Francisco nonprofit group discovered that a Wisconsin woman was considering starting a leather clothing line with "Dykes on Bikes" as its label.

The group filed for trademark protection immediately.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/po/20051209/co_po/trademarkofficeoksdykesonbikes

[moose65]

1. Good (or is it?)

Lesbians in the group, please enlighten me: how do you feel about the term "dyke"? Is it one of those words that has been "reclaimed"? I mean, I use the word once in awhile, but to me it kinda has a rough edge or something that makes it uncomfortable. As a gay man, I use the words "queer" and "homo" to refer to myself and my friends, but have never been one to use the word "fag." Maybe it's just me, but "fag" seems to have some underlying hatefulness in it that I don't see in the other words. Oh well. We're all human beings, anyway! LOL

[tuvor]

2. I know the Vancouver chapter will be happy about it. n/t

[Lex]

3. I'd say the word "dyke" has been pretty much reclaimed.

Just my opinion.

[Solo_in_MD]

5. Once again the Federal Gov takes mutually exclusive positions

There are a lot of words one dare not use in a Federal workplace. Dyke is amongst them. Its use is by definition pejorative so using it is a suspendable offense. Just ask the federal HR office near you. EEOC supports that as well. That PTO has labeled it not discrimnatory will only make it more complicated. *sigh*

[Boomer]

6. Definitely reclaimed

I'm a 50+ lesbian who spent over a decade living in New York, being at least somewhat peripherally politically active, and "dyke" was absolutely a postive term in that community. Can't speak for other communities or eras, because gay culture is far from monolithic, but my attitude and associations were cemented in that time and place.

The word "lesbian" is actually harder for me to say out loud, not sure why, but I really like the word dyke. It's strong, it's fun, it doesn't take itself too seriously. I look at photos of myself at the age of 4 or 5, and it's obvious at one glance that I was a little baby dyke. Somehow the phrase "baby lesbian" just doesn't work, doesn't conjur up the same image of an innocent mildly transgendered child that must have dismayed my mother (she knew, she knew, even when she didn't want to know, she knew).

[kweerwolf]

4. Oh Please! If Hurricane Katrina taught us anything ...

... it's that the politically correct term is "levees." ;-)